Romania round-up: Four off as Politehnica plummet
Saturday, November 30, 2002
Article summary
FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara had four players sent off as they lost to FC Dinamo Bucuresti on Saturday.
Article body
FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara had four players sent off as they conceded a goal in added time to lose 3-2 to second-placed FC Dinamo Bucuresti in Divizia A on Saturday.
Stadium stunned
A 35,000-strong crowd in the Dan Paltinisan stadium were stunned to see their side reduced to seven men in a pulsating game which had been goalless at half-time, despite Politehnica's Cosmin Marisescu seeing red for a brutal foul on 35 minutes. The ten men took the lead five minutes after the break through Romulus Buia, but they were quickly pegged back by Giana Kirita's 25-metre strike and found themselves behind midway through the second half after Cosmin Barcauan's goal.
Dire Straits
Mircea Oprea pulled the home side level on 79 minutes but they were reduced to nine men after Calin Zanc saw red for a vicious challenge four minutes from time. It seemed as though the hosts would hang on for a draw but after Bogdan Thomas scored Dinamo's winning goal in the second minute of added time, Politehnica found themsleves in dire straits when Florin Constantinovici and Marius Suleap received their marching orders for protesting.
Rapid on form
The win kept Dinamo in second place, ten points behind on-form FC Rapid Bucuresti, who obtained their fifth successive victory - their first away win against FC UTA Arad in 35 years. Razvan Rat and Robert Nita scored the goals in a 2-0 win, Rapid's 12th league success of the season.
Raducanu double
Elsewhere, FC National Bucuresti stayed third despite drawing 0-0 against CF Gloris Bistrita 1922 and FC Steaua Bucuresti recovered from a goal down to beat CF Sportul Studentesc 2-1. Octavian Chihaia had put Sportul ahead, but a quickfire double from Claudiu Raducanu midway through the second half ultimately handed Steaua victory, although they had to hold on after captain Mirel Radoi was dismissed late on for violent conduct.
Dumitrescu defeated
Meanwhile, Ilie Dumitrescu suffered his first defeat at the helm of FCM Bacau after Flavin Cornea's solitary 83rd-minute strike handed CS Otelul Galati all three points and FC Universitatea Craiova's first game under floodlights ended in a goalless draw with FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. In the day's other games, FC Farul Constanta beat FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti 2-1 and FC Brasov drew 1-1 with Astra Ploiesti.
