Official Cup

Anastas Chohadzhiev
Spectators: 154 (Terracing: 116, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) Progresul Pitesti's Lucian Panțuru started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Emil Şandru showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gonzo Ivanov, who was totally free with the ball in the 3rd minute. After a defensive mix-up in Progresul Pitesti's zone, Gonzo Ivanov stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Emil Şandru came out of the goal and Gonzo Ivanov tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 18th minute, Toni Nenchev made a precise shot to the right of Emil Şandru. Progresul Pitesti's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. Toni Nenchev's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 24thth minute, Emil Şandru skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After 25 played minutes Gonzo Ivanov rounded Progresul Pitesti's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 2-0. Lucian Panțuru sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dragan Mangezov hit a great freekick 30 minutes into the match. A collision led to DARAS getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Iliya Kasabov hit a great ball. Emil Şandru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gonzo Ivanov in the 36th minute of play. If Toni Nenchev had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Emil Şandru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Toni Nenchev in the 37th minute of play. Horia Caranică kicked well hit freekick during the 38th minute of the match. In the 42nd minute, Gonzo Ivanov got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 43rdth minute of the game Toni Nenchev who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Progresul Pitesti's Emil Şandru was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gonzo Ivanov made a kick off. Emil Şandru showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Toni Nenchev in the 52nd minute of the match. Emil Şandru showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Toni Nenchev, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. Emil Şandru made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Toni Nenchev in the 58th minute of play. Iliya Kasabov's late challenge caught a Progresul Pitesti's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Iliya Kasabov helped the player get up and apologised. In the 62nd minute, Iliya Kasabov hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 62 minutes into the game Horaţiu Coșeriu came into a good position and shot a long shot on goal. In spite of Vute Baliev trying to reach the ball it went through just inside the left pole. 2-1. Toni Nenchev fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Emil Şandru having to interfere. DARAS's Paolo Rossi was substituted for Toni Nenchev. Gonzo Ivanov might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Emil Şandru. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Gonzo Ivanov ran back to his position shaking his head. Gonzo Ivanov received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Emil Şandru tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Gonzo Ivanov came up free with the goalie in the 82nd minute, the DARAS 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 Gonzo Ivanov couldn't finish the play. The audience was convinced that Paolo Rossi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Emil Şandru was relentless in the 87th minute of the game. Horia Caranică sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 93 minutes of play, DARAS's Paolo Rossi made it 3-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Emil Şandru was left in no man's land by his defense there! DARAS were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Progresul Pitesti for a fine match.