League

Halinga
Spectators: 7957 (Terracing: 5969, Seating: 1830, VIP seats: 158) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Frédson Arantes started the match with the kick off. 5 minutes into the match, Halinga's goal looked a bit too open when Ionel Dănciulescu came free, but Zeus Phoenix reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some careless play in the Halinga defense, Horaţiu Oroveanu kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Zeus Phoenix. The Halinga fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Zeus Phoenix should have stopped the shot. Shekwodiza Opeyemi kicked well hit freekick during the 9th minute of the match. Ionel Dănciulescu recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Bengt-Arne Ahlroht kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. After having played for 21 minutes, Frédson Arantes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cocoloco's supporters crossed their fingers, but Frédson Arantes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 24 minutes into the match, Gică Hâncu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Zeus Phoenix. Halinga's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Gică Hâncu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. 28 minutes into the match, Halinga's goal looked a bit too open when Ionel Dănciulescu came free, but Zeus Phoenix reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Halinga's zone, Frédson Arantes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zeus Phoenix came out of the goal and Frédson Arantes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Dinu Taşcău made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Iurie Bucataru in the 34th minute of play. In the 36th minute Shekwodiza Opeyemi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dinu Taşcău saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ionel Dănciulescu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Frédson Arantes in the 45th minute of play forced Halinga's goalkeeper Zeus Phoenix to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zeus Phoenix took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Horaţiu Oroveanu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After the first half Cocoloco were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Iurie Bucataru made a kick off. A collision led to Cocoloco getting a freekick after 50 minutes play. Bedih Hatırlı hit a great ball. When Iurie Bucataru came up free with the goalie in the 52nd minute, the Halinga 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 Iurie Bucataru couldn't finish the play. The supporters of Cocoloco booed when Halinga was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. David Dragotescu didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Halinga's zone, Bedih Hatırlı stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zeus Phoenix came out of the goal and Bedih Hatırlı tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cocoloco's Dinu Taşcău played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Denis Constantiniu in the 60th minute of play. Zeus Phoenix made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ionel Dănciulescu in the 65th minute. In the 69th minute of the match, Frédson Arantes tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Zeus Phoenix saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. When Frédson Arantes came up free with the goalie in the 73rd minute, the Cocoloco 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 Frédson Arantes couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, Denis Constantiniu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Halinga's supporters rose to their feet, but Denis Constantiniu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dinu Taşcău breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. A collision led to Cocoloco getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Petru Hristea hit a great ball. After 85 minutes, Shekwodiza Opeyemi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Halinga and the Cocoloco players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Cocoloco booed when Halinga was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Shekwodiza Opeyemi didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 86th minute Frédson Arantes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zeus Phoenix saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ionel Dănciulescu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zeus Phoenix having to interfere.