Pompey_Dan
theboydonegood.net
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The last day of the Romanian season was upon us with some mouth watering ties due to be played out. In Liga I, Dinamo Bucharest lost out on the title to their bitter rivals Steaua Bucharest. Dinamo led the Romanian title chase by a single point going into their last game against Unirea Urziceni, but managed to lose the game 1-0. A 2-2 draw for Steaua against Astra Poliesti was enough to clinch the top spot thanks to their head-to-head record against Dinamo.
Meanwhile, in Liga II (group 2), it was going to be a nail biting day for the managers of CS Otopeni, U Cluj and FC Drobeta. All three teams were in with a shout of promotion, Otopeni were in the driving seat but faced a tough game against the already promoted FC Arges.
Here’s how it all unfolded...
15mins
0-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
With the match only 15 minutes old Ilie Baicu tripped U Cluj’s Michael Baird in the box. Referee, Istvan Kovacs, pointed to the spot and Baird cooly put the ball into the bottom left corner.
40mins
0-0 CS Otopeni v Arges
Problems for Otopeni as they saw their creative midfielder, Florin Manea, fall awkwardly on his arm after making a clearance. Manea was later diagnosed as having a hairline fracture of the wrist.
45mins
1-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
U Cluj manager, Dan Lake, was infuriated with the referee as he added more than two minutes injury time at halftime at the stadium Dacia. He had even more reason to be angry when Mihai Vintila scored his seventh goal of the season.
48mins
0-1 CS Otopeni v Arges
Shortly into the second half Arges took the lead at Otopeni thanks to Ivorian striker Youssouf Kamara. Mircea Stan opened up the home defence with a sublime pass and Kamara was on hand to put away his 14th goal of the season.
50mins
1-0 Rm. Valcea v Drobeta
Drobeta went looking for the goal that could get them promoted in the second half as news broke that their rivals were struggling to impose themselves. When the goal did come, however, it wasn’t scored by the men in blue. Valcea’s goal came courtesy of their star striker Tiago Santos.
63mins
0-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
Arges further dented Otopeni’s promotion hopes as they extended their lead on 63 minutes. Iulian Tames scored the goal with a freekick from the edge of the 18 yard box.
79mins
1-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
The home side started to find their rhythm and the goal came during a spell of intense pressure being applied on Arges’ defenders. Gabriel Caramarin lofted a corner into the box and Marian Vatavu rose to head it home. News quickly came from the bench that U Cluj were drawing and all the players needed was one more goal! Meanwhile, U Cluj were struggling to hold back relegation candidates Mioveni as the home side came forward in waves.
90mins
1-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
0-1 Rm. Valcea v Drobeta
1-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
Nerves showed for all the promotion candidates on the last day, none of them got took all three points and only U Cluj and CS Otopeni even managed to score a goal! In the end U Cluj’s draw against Mioveni was enough to secure them second spot ahead of Otopeni. With ten minutes to go it could have been so different with Otopeni pushing their opponents hard whilst U Cluj did just enough not to buckle.
On winning promotion Dan Lake was quoted as saying “this is the best day of my career so far, I never stopped believing even if some sections of the media had written us off!” He also found time to pay tribute to his players and staff, “they are a fantastic bunch of lads who deserve to be playing in the top flight. This promotion is for everyone connected to this great club from the girls in the canteen to the chairman!”
Lake and his players should enjoy the party now, because life in the top flight next season will be tough.
---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
The last few games of the season were played out with a more adventurous 4-4-2 as I had nothing to lose, in fact, I would have settled for 3rd or 4th as I intended on building the squad over the first season or two.
The team for the closing games (when all available) was:
By the end of the season I’d identified my best players as centre-half Zsolt Szilagyi, winger Charles Taylor and striker Flavius Bad, providing the spine of my team.
Meanwhile, in Liga II (group 2), it was going to be a nail biting day for the managers of CS Otopeni, U Cluj and FC Drobeta. All three teams were in with a shout of promotion, Otopeni were in the driving seat but faced a tough game against the already promoted FC Arges.
Here’s how it all unfolded...
15mins
0-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
With the match only 15 minutes old Ilie Baicu tripped U Cluj’s Michael Baird in the box. Referee, Istvan Kovacs, pointed to the spot and Baird cooly put the ball into the bottom left corner.
40mins
0-0 CS Otopeni v Arges
Problems for Otopeni as they saw their creative midfielder, Florin Manea, fall awkwardly on his arm after making a clearance. Manea was later diagnosed as having a hairline fracture of the wrist.
45mins
1-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
U Cluj manager, Dan Lake, was infuriated with the referee as he added more than two minutes injury time at halftime at the stadium Dacia. He had even more reason to be angry when Mihai Vintila scored his seventh goal of the season.
48mins
0-1 CS Otopeni v Arges
Shortly into the second half Arges took the lead at Otopeni thanks to Ivorian striker Youssouf Kamara. Mircea Stan opened up the home defence with a sublime pass and Kamara was on hand to put away his 14th goal of the season.
50mins
1-0 Rm. Valcea v Drobeta
Drobeta went looking for the goal that could get them promoted in the second half as news broke that their rivals were struggling to impose themselves. When the goal did come, however, it wasn’t scored by the men in blue. Valcea’s goal came courtesy of their star striker Tiago Santos.
63mins
0-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
Arges further dented Otopeni’s promotion hopes as they extended their lead on 63 minutes. Iulian Tames scored the goal with a freekick from the edge of the 18 yard box.
79mins
1-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
The home side started to find their rhythm and the goal came during a spell of intense pressure being applied on Arges’ defenders. Gabriel Caramarin lofted a corner into the box and Marian Vatavu rose to head it home. News quickly came from the bench that U Cluj were drawing and all the players needed was one more goal! Meanwhile, U Cluj were struggling to hold back relegation candidates Mioveni as the home side came forward in waves.
90mins
1-2 CS Otopeni v Arges
0-1 Rm. Valcea v Drobeta
1-1 Mioveni v U Cluj
Nerves showed for all the promotion candidates on the last day, none of them got took all three points and only U Cluj and CS Otopeni even managed to score a goal! In the end U Cluj’s draw against Mioveni was enough to secure them second spot ahead of Otopeni. With ten minutes to go it could have been so different with Otopeni pushing their opponents hard whilst U Cluj did just enough not to buckle.
On winning promotion Dan Lake was quoted as saying “this is the best day of my career so far, I never stopped believing even if some sections of the media had written us off!” He also found time to pay tribute to his players and staff, “they are a fantastic bunch of lads who deserve to be playing in the top flight. This promotion is for everyone connected to this great club from the girls in the canteen to the chairman!”
Lake and his players should enjoy the party now, because life in the top flight next season will be tough.
---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
The last few games of the season were played out with a more adventurous 4-4-2 as I had nothing to lose, in fact, I would have settled for 3rd or 4th as I intended on building the squad over the first season or two.
The team for the closing games (when all available) was:
By the end of the season I’d identified my best players as centre-half Zsolt Szilagyi, winger Charles Taylor and striker Flavius Bad, providing the spine of my team.
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