League Play-Off

Balinesti
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Dumitru Cojan made the kick off which started today's match. Costică Ursulescu hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. In the 3rd minute, Iacob Șeimeanu sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and FC Steaua Bucuresti's Romeo Mateianu didn't even have to move. Dumitru Cojan received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Mugurel Cînu came out and tried to block the shot, but Dumitru Cojan slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 6th minute. 12 minutes into the game, Petruț Bosioc recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Mugurel Cînu. Petruț Bosioc showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-0. After 15 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Grapeni! When Dacian Mugur fell near the penalty area in the 19th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Grapeni's protests and gave Dacian Mugur a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Grapeni's Dacian Mugur got a free kick in the 19th minute. FC Steaua Bucuresti's Romeo Mateianu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dacian Mugur in the 26th minute of play. If Toader Tatomir had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Romeo Mateianu made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dacian Mugur in the 30th minute of play. Grapeni's Mugurel Cînu proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 31st minute of the match, managed to save Grapeni from getting a goal against them. When Daniel Horia fell near the penalty area in the 34th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Grapeni's protests and gave Daniel Horia a yellow card for diving instead. After 33 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Grapeni! In the 34th minute there was a penalty for FC Steaua Bucuresti. Gelu Ghiondea stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Mugurel Cînu. 4-0. Fabian Luncașu kicked well hit freekick during the 39th minute of the match. When the match clock showed 41 minutes, the score became 5-0 when Dumitru Cojan sped through Grapeni's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Mugurel Cînu. After 47 minutes, Horaţiu Boteanu mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Grapeni and the FC Steaua Bucuresti players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Grapeni's Horaţiu Boteanu got a free kick in the 47th minute. When Valer Andrițoiu fell near the penalty area in the 48th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored FC Steaua Bucuresti's protests and gave Valer Andrițoiu a yellow card for diving instead. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 5-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Dacian Mugur made the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, Grapeni's Iacob Șeimeanu sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Romeo Mateianu narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Codrin Turcescu during the 60th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 60 played minutes FC Steaua Bucuresti got a freekick which was hit by Codrin Turcescu. In the 61st minute Toader Tatomir shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Romeo Mateianu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Horaţiu Boteanu took the ball and in the 62 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Romeo Mateianu. Romeo Mateianu dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 5-1. After 66 played minutes FC Steaua Bucuresti got a freekick which was hit by Petruț Bosioc. A collision led to FC Steaua Bucuresti getting a freekick after 68 minutes play. Costică Ursulescu hit a great ball. 70 minutes into the game, Valeriu Mușătescu was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Grapeni's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FC Steaua Bucuresti the free kick. After 70 played minutes Grapeni got a freekick which was hit by Valeriu Mușătescu. In the 72ndth minute of the game Dumitru Cojan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Grapeni's Mugurel Cînu was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. With an all-out effort, Grapeni's Romeo Mateianu threw himself towards the right post 74 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Horaţiu Boteanu, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dumitru Cojan in the 75th minute of play forced Grapeni's goalkeeper Mugurel Cînu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 85th minute, Horaţiu Boteanu hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 86thth minute of the game Dumitru Cojan who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Grapeni's Mugurel Cînu was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Horea Coman in the 92nd minute of play forced Grapeni's goalkeeper Mugurel Cînu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Dumitru Cojan in the 96th minute of play forced Grapeni's goalkeeper Mugurel Cînu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Many of Grapeni's supporters were seen to leave the ground early as it became clear their team was going to lose. Grapeni may have spent more time on the ball, but FC Steaua Bucuresti were more willing to take their chances and they walked away with the win.