THEY WON – Minaur wins in Cluj-Napoca and climbs to 7th place, savior from relegation

FOOTBALL – 3rd LEAGUE. Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Clujana Stadium in Cluj-Napoca, in the match counting for the 5th stage of the play-out of the III League, the 10th Series in men’s football, CS Sănătatea Servicii Publice lost, with 2-4 (1-1), match with CS Minaur Baia Mare. The match, refereed at the center by Mihai Ovidiu Motan from Târgoviște, opposed the teams ranked before the round on places 7 (Sănătatea) and 8 (Minaur).

A match between teams that received an entire balloon of oxygen after the announcement of the team from Ocna Dej that it was withdrawing from the championship, implicitly the problem of a direct relegation was solved, both teams still hoping that they will not find themselves in the penultimate position in the series, where now is the Olimpia Satu Mare supporters’ team.

Baimăreni came to Cluj as the only team in the series undefeated in the play-out. In the regular season, Minaur won both matches, both in Cluj-Napoca and in Baia Mare, with the same score, 2-0, a victory that could lift them to 7th place, following a goalless draw with their opponent. But even the “Green Viruses” did not aim to complicate their situation in the second part of the play-out, so the match was far from being settled in any way.

Coach Ciprian Danciu (Minaur) started the match with the following 11: Breban – Mureșan, Lazăr, Simion (capt.), Achim – Matei, Csiszer, Stănescu, Serediuc – Orosz, Batin. Two changes from the starting team from last leg, Csiszer in place of Vitan and Orosz in place of Gherman.

The hosts manage to open the score in the min. 11 through the young central midfielder Andrei Ciprian Dioszegi (19 years old), escaped on the counterattack. The people of Baimăran did not give up the initiative, they put pressure on the defense of Health and in min. 16 Raphael Stănescu manages to equalize after a serious error by the goalkeeper – Stănescu shot directly from the free kick from the side of the 16-meter box, with only two people in the wall, on foot, the shot was slightly deflected into the left corner (mistake goalkeeper and defence).

The second half begins, in Satu Mare, the Olimpia supporters’ team leads Victoria Carei and a draw does not help either team. In min. 61, midfielder Raul Saroși (23 years old) brings the hosts back into the vantage point, scoring for 2-1, but the hosts quickly remain in numerical inferiority (elimination for two yellow cards of Denis Paul in min. 63). Stănescu makes the double and equalizes in min. 70, and then, after only 2 minutes, the teenager Calvin Cândea scores only 5 minutes after his introduction on the field (he replaced Orosz) – this player is only 16 years old and he is the first goal for Minaur (he debuted 20 days for the big team).

Minaur also forces in min. 75 Batin misses the clearance, after a header, unmarked from the center of the box (the ball was not in the goal area). Raul Sarosi min. 81 has the equalizer on the ice, after he also got a penalty, following a foul, but misses (he shot with a short volley, but Breban guessed the corner and parried). As in life and football, opportunities take their revenge and Minaur scores the 4th goal, a personal success of Cătălin Ștefănescu (min. 85). Generic.

In Satu Mare, Olimpia – Victoria Carei: 3-3 (the hosts equalized in extra time). The match in Cluj-Napoca also ends: 2-4, a victory that releases the oxygen bottle of the people of Baim, who are finally breathing further away from the threat of relegation.

• CS Health Public Services – CS Minaur Baia Mare: 2-4 (1-1)Andrei Dioszegi (min. 11), Raul Sarosi (min. 61) / Raphael Stănescu (min. 16, min. 70), Calvin Cândea (min. 72), Cătălin Ștefănescu (min. 85) scored.

Following the victory, Minaur climbs to 7th place (plays the round with Sănătatea Cluj with which it is tied on points, 25, the two teams being separated by goal difference, but also by the result of the direct match). In the next stage, Minaur plays at home, on May 3, against Lotus Băile Felix (6th place).

Andrei TUDORAN