League

Craiova City
Spectators: 7572 (Terracing: 5680, Seating: 1741, VIP seats: 151) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Grigore Preda started the match with the kick off. A collision led to SSC Steaua getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Flavius Unciuleanu hit a great ball. Grigore Preda in the 5thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Adrian Bocaneț, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 7 minutes into the match, Craiova FC's goal looked a bit too open when Mihail Tulbure came free, but Nistor Ipătescu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Grigore Preda got free with Adrian Bocaneț in the 10th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 16th minute the ball was on its way in behind SSC Steaua's goalkeeper Adrian Bocaneț, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Grigore Predas short, quick shot in the 22ndth minute got Adrian Bocaneț to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Grigore Preda who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 25thth minute tested the skills of Adrian Bocaneț when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Iustin Ungheanu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 26th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Adrian Bocaneț having to interfere. Narcis Chițu hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. After having played for 31 minutes, Grigore Preda managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Craiova FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Grigore Preda was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 33rd play minute Luca Mandache came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Adrian Bocaneț. 2-0. After 35 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for SSC Steaua! Nistor Ipătescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mihail Tulbure in the 41st minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mihail Tulbure in the 48th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nistor Ipătescu saved Craiova FC from getting behind. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Mihail Tulbure was the one to do the kick off. After 51 minutes, Gelu Cîrțu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Craiova FC and the SSC Steaua players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 51st minute, Gelu Cîrțu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Adrian Bocaneț showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luca Mandache, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. If Cazimir Lopatnicu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. SSC Steaua's Adrian Bocaneț played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Iustin Ungheanu in the 61st minute of play. Adrian Bocaneț didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Iustin Ungheanu went, in the 63rd minute, to the upper right corner, 3-0 was the resulting score. Denis Pavalescu hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. After a rather tough play, SSC Steaua's Dan Ştoia got a free kick in the 70th minute. When Craiova FC's Iustin Ungheanu in the 73rd minute got a chance for a shot 73rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye SSC Steaua's goalie prevented a goal. With 74 minutes on the clock, Niculae Ciulei commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. A collision led to SSC Steaua getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Niculae Ciulei hit a great ball. Adrian Bocaneț showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Vasile Grozuță, who was totally free with the ball in the 75th minute. Nistor Ipătescu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Narcis Chițu in the 77th minute of play. In the 83rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Craiova FC's goalkeeper Nistor Ipătescu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Nistor Ipătescu showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Narcis Chițu, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. Adrian Bocaneț took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Iustin Ungheanu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nistor Ipătescu made a fantastic save in the 89th minute, when Dan Ştoia sent off a good shot on target. Dan Ştoia could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Nistor Ipătescu made a huge save. SSC Steaua's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.