League

Dan Paltinisanu
Spectators: 7736 (Terracing: 5803, Seating: 1779, VIP seats: 154) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Dinu Gheondea kicked off to start the match. The throw-in from Marian Gârniceanu in the 3rd minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by GLADIATORII's Gigi Râznicu. Nechifor Hurmuz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Cazimir Marincean tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 14th minute of the game Robert Nestor made a throw-in which Dinu Gheondea played forward. After a rather tough play, FC POLI TIMISOARA's Nichifor Benga got a free kick in the 17th minute. 22 minutes into the match, Dinu Gheondea had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Marcel Frunză. GLADIATORII's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Dinu Gheondea was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Irinel Breazu in the 25th minute of play forced GLADIATORII's goalkeeper Marcel Frunză to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Marcel Frunză didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Robert Nestor went, in the 26th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Viorel Irod managed to get in a good position for a shot. GLADIATORII's supporters rose to their feet, but Viorel Irod was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cazimir Marincean breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With 37 minutes on the clock, Albert Stelea commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 37 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for FC POLI TIMISOARA! When GLADIATORII's Nechifor Hurmuz in the 42nd minute got a chance for a shot 42nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye FC POLI TIMISOARA's goalie prevented a goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Nechifor Hurmuz during the 43rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 44th match minute, GLADIATORII was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nechifor Hurmuz to maneuver through the defense. Panait Nicoliță received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Marcel Frunză tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

If Nechifor Hurmuz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 54 minutes, Viorel Irod managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. GLADIATORII's supporters crossed their fingers, but Viorel Irod was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Panait Nicoliță made in the 59th minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Nichifor Benga. The throw-in from Marian Gârniceanu in the 65th minute of the game was unfortunally taken care of by GLADIATORII's Gigi Râznicu. When the match clock showed 66 minutes, the score became 2-2 when Nechifor Hurmuz sped through FC POLI TIMISOARA's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Cazimir Marincean. 71 minutes into the match, Daniel Pantelimon had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Cazimir Marincean. FC POLI TIMISOARA's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Daniel Pantelimon was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-3. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nechifor Hurmuz got free with Cazimir Marincean in the 82nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Nichifor Benga hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. A collision led to FC POLI TIMISOARA getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Nichifor Benga hit a great ball. Petre Bărbuceanu struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Cazimir Marincean didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for GLADIATORII. A collision led to FC POLI TIMISOARA getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Nichifor Benga hit a great ball. After 91 played minutes, GLADIATORII's Gigi Râznicu shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Cazimir Marincean came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in GLADIATORII reached it.