League Play-Off

Manjesti
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Alexandru Ciocâltea took the kick off in the first half of the match. A collision led to Steaua getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Valeriu Beșliu hit a great ball. Matei Manu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emilian Horia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 14th minute Albertas Balkys shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matei Manu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Matei Manu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Narcis Sucigan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 25th minute, Alexandru Ciocâltea left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The FC Boteni fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Călin Iovulescu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Mihnea Popoiu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Matei Manu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Albertas Balkys in the 38th minute of the match. Alexandru Ciocâltea fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mihnea Popoiu having to interfere.

When Leonard Iliuță came up free with the goalie in the 51st minute, the FC Boteni fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Leonard Iliuță couldn't finish the play. In the 56th minute of the match, Emilian Horia got a very nice opportunity to score, but Matei Manu was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Albertas Balkys who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 71stth minute tested the skills of Matei Manu when he managed to save the team from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Albertas Balkys in the 74th minute of play forced FC Boteni's goalkeeper Matei Manu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Zahavi Birbauer came up free with the goalie in the 75th minute, the Steaua fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Zahavi Birbauer couldn't finish the play. FC Boteni's Mihail Corduneanu was substituted for Călin Iovulescu. 78 minutes into the match, FC Boteni's goalkeeper Matei Manu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Emilian Horia. In the 86th minute, Albertas Balkys fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. In the 87th minute, Albertas Balkys reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Matei Manu. The goal made the score 1-3. Emilian Horia blasted a shot towards the goal in the 91st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Matei Manu having to make a save. After a defensive mix-up in FC Boteni's zone, Albertas Balkys stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Matei Manu came out of the goal and Albertas Balkys tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 94th minute of the match Eugen Eremia sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Matei Manu skillfully saved the ball. The supporters of Steaua booed when FC Boteni was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 94 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bogdan Mutu didn't get a good kick on the ball. The Steaua supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Steaua would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.