League Play-Off

Manjesti
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ştefan Luca took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Leonard Iliuță had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Petrachei UFC's Ştefan Luca in the 5th minute got a chance for a shot 5th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FC Boteni's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, FC Boteni's Bogdan Mutu got a free kick in the 7th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ştefan Luca in the 13th minute of play forced FC Boteni's goalkeeper Matei Manu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience was convinced that Ştefan Luca's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Matei Manu was relentless in the 13th minute of the game. In the 16th minute the ball was on its way in behind FC Boteni's goalkeeper Matei Manu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Gigi Stoleru took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 18th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Matei Manu. FC Boteni's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Ştefan Luca received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Matei Manu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. FC Boteni's Alexandru Ciocâltea got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Alexandru Ciocâltea sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 33 minutes into the game, Denis Chiru was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Petrachei UFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Boteni the free kick. After a rather tough play, Petrachei UFC's Denis Chiru got a free kick in the 33rd minute. In the 35th match minute, Petrachei UFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nae Hulubei to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Petrachei UFC getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Gigi Stoleru hit a great ball. Gigel Lupașcu was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 43rd minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Bogdan Mutu. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Alexandru Ciocâltea made a kick off. The crowd rose to their feet as Cristinel Cocoș kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Matei Manu. That made the score 0-1 in the 52 minute of play. Petrachei UFC's Gigel Lupașcu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alexandru Ciocâltea in the 61st minute of play. In the 64th minute Ştefan Luca 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 made a fantastic save in the 69th minute, when Denis Chiru sent off a good shot on target. If Ştefan Luca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. FC Boteni made a substitution. Mihail Corduneanu replaced Călin Iovulescu. FC Boteni's Edgar Mantu was substituted for Leonard Iliuță. Matei Manu made an important save on a dangerous shot by Denis Chiru in the 78th minute. Alexandru Ciocâltea sent away a hard shot on goal in the 80th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 81 minutes into the game, FC Boteni's Mihail Corduneanu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Gigel Lupașcu made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-1. After 85 minutes, Mihail Corduneanu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the FC Boteni and the Petrachei UFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Gigel Lupașcu stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alexandru Ciocâltea's shot from short distance in the 90th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 92nd minute, Bogdan Mutu managed to get in a good position for a shot. FC Boteni's supporters rose to their feet, but Bogdan Mutu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gigel Lupașcu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.