The match didn’t even start well, because the stadium exploded. It was only min. 6, when Vulturar found Eizekel on the right, he crossed in front of the small box, from where Luckassen sent a header into the net: 1-0. Just 90 seconds apart, Vulturar was one step ahead of 2-0, but missed the shot, from the small box, in the conditions where Gurău was beaten.
The reply from FC U Craiova came in min. 16, when Blănuță sent over, from about 7 meters. UTA could make it 2-0 in the minute. 28, but Eizekel missed unbelievably, from a meter from the post, failing to put the ball into the net. Immediately, at the other goal, V. Pop caught an extremely strong shot, but the bar saved Fl. Iacob.
Explosion of joy and in min. 31, when Trif impetuously penetrated on the left, sent into the box, from where the young R. Pop sent into the net: 2-0. On a school counterattack, UTA could make it 3-0, but Gurău amazingly rejected Omondi’s shot, from just a few meters. In the last minute of the half, FC U Craiova could reduce the handicap, but Blanuță’s shot was blocked at the last moment.
The second half started with the guests having better possession, but without being dangerous at the goal of Fl. Iacob. And in min. 60, after a counterattack, the ball reached Joao Pedro, who shot from about 17 meters, but Gurău rejected. The goal fell in the end, in min. 66. Micovschi shot from 25 meters out, Gurău deflected it in front of the big box, from where Joao Pedro took over, entered the box and executed Gurău: 3-0!
The Oltenians were KO, and C. Mihai was one step away from 4-0, but the same Gurău rejected incredibly. Căpușă could also score a goal, but he shot weakly from 8 meters and the goalkeeper caught it, so that Eizekel immediately also missed stunningly, in front of the small box. Craiova was as if from another movie, almost every UTA counterattack being devastating.
And yet, Mititelu’s Oltenians also scored, in the min. 88, through Ibrahim, who resumed in the net from the small box, after Fl. Iacob rejected the ball sent towards the goal by Blănuță: 3-1.
That’s how it ended, although Eizekel and Micovschi still had opportunities to score in overtime.
With this result, UTA secured the 7th place, the first in the play-out, with one round before the end of the championship.
UTA – FC U Craiova 3-1 (2-0)
“Francisc Neuman” Arena, very good pitch, excellent weather for football, 10,000 spectators. They scored: Luckassen – min. 6, R. Pop – min. 31, Joao Pedro – min. 66, respectively ibrahim – min. 88.
UTA: Fl. Iacob – Tick, Stolnik, Conte, Trif (Rodrigues) – R. Pop (Joao Pedro), C. Mihai (Calotă), Vulturar (Micovschi), Omondi – Eizekel, Luckassen (Iurasciuc). FC U Craiova: Gurău – Negru (Mascarenhas), Lacroix, Compagnucci, Padula – D. Albu (Bahassa), Achim (Chițu) – Baeten, Bauza (Ibrahim), V. Pop (Van Durmen) – Blănuță. The referees were: Andrei Moroiță (Ploiești) – in the center, Radu Ghinguleac (Bucharest) and Alexandru Cerei (Cluj) – assistants.
