League Play-Off

Valentin Stanescu
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Amauri Paes got the match started through his kick off. F.C. Brasov's Leontin Maghiar proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 3rd minute of the match, managed to save F.C. Brasov from getting a goal against them. 4 minutes into the match, Amauri Paes had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Leontin Maghiar. F.C. Brasov's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Amauri Paes was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Viorel Nandriș in the 11th minute of play forced F.C Rapid Bucuresti's goalkeeper Eugen Apostolescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 13 minutes into the game, Gavril Păstrăv was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. F.C. Brasov's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave F.C Rapid Bucuresti the free kick. The audience held their breath when Emilian Costache in the 15th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Leontin Maghiar's left hand side. Leontin Maghiar showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Amauri Paes, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. In the 22nd minute, Amauri Paes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Leontin Maghiar was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. Leontin Maghiar made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amauri Paes in the 27th minute of play. In the 32nd minute, Gigi Răţescu 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. Eugen Apostolescu had in the 37thth minute some difficulties stopping Calistrat Mironescu's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ioan Simionaş in the 38th minute of play forced F.C Rapid Bucuresti's goalkeeper Eugen Apostolescu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Gavril Păstrăv was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 40 minutes into the match. In the 41st match minute, F.C. Brasov was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gavril Păstrăv to maneuver through the defense. Emilian Costache recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Eugen Apostolescu took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jim Grall, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of F.C Rapid Bucuresti booed when F.C. Brasov was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Filip Gaszynski didn't get a good kick on the ball. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-0 at half-time.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Jim Grall was the one to do the kick off. In the 57th minute Dacian Pancu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leontin Maghiar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 61 minutes into the match, F.C. Brasov's goal looked a bit too open when Dacian Pancu came free, but Leontin Maghiar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 61stth minute of the game Dacian Pancu who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but F.C. Brasov's Leontin Maghiar was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Jim Grall had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jim Grall received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Eugen Apostolescu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. F.C Rapid Bucuresti made a substitution. Calistrat Hogaș replaced Sylwester Sikola. F.C. Brasov's Leontin Maghiar played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gigi Răţescu in the 79th minute of play. Jim Grall sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. F.C Rapid Bucuresti made a substitution. Cătălin Encea replaced Gigi Răţescu. Ioan Simionaş sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Cătălin Encea's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Leontin Maghiar was relentless in the 91st minute of the game. 95 minutes into the match, F.C. Brasov's goal looked a bit too open when Dacian Pancu came free, but Leontin Maghiar reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. F.C Rapid Bucuresti's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.