By talal osman

 

How the game unfolded

With 11,000 fans behind them, Onea and Ciobotariu, old and new Vlajgans from Giulești, started the duel synonymous with the objective test differently.From the first minutes, the hosts played with their heads held high, far from the hypertensive one shown in recent matches, but this did not prevent Universitatea Craiova from having the first opportunity, through Jovo Lukic, the long, soft, skilled shot, sought after in Bosnia, who only slightly resembled Elvir Koljic from a few years ago.

Mora's penetrations into the right flank, from short dribbles and simple one-twos with Ștefan Bana, also failed to produce results in the context in which Oshima and Cicâldău were concerned with turning balls over to the detriment of the offensive construction.

The 9th minute brought the first blow for Şumudića. Jakub Hromada left the field on a stretcher, with a cervical collar applied by doctors, after a disproportionate duel with the top of Craiova. Kait came in his place. The classic torches and firecrackers thrown onto the field from the home side followed, but also a boost that led to the opening of the score.

Gjoko Zajkov contributed greatly, straying into the forward positions, making a mistake, losing possession to the despair of his teammates in defense. Micovschi's action from the right wing started the counterattack, the home specialty, at the end of which Alex Dobre (18') was found, with his foot well placed, with no chance for goalkeeper Laurențiu Popescu.

The advantage further exposed the visitors' shortcomings. Mitriță and Zajkov were reprimanded, Aznor left his position to move between the central defenders, while Alex Cicâldău failed in any attack attempt.

Universitatea Craiova, severe lack of inspiration in attack

Upon returning from the locker room, Costel Gâlcă made a massive move, dissatisfied with his team's performance. Barbu, Screciu and Badelj came on for a different course of the game. From the sidelines, Şumudică insisted by telling his players to press in the middle of the field, in search of the second goal.

Mitriță, placed more behind the striker, gave the signal that nothing was ready, after a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Aioani barely saved for a corner.

In the 54th minute, Burmaz took advantage of the opponent's defense's numbness, sending a shot into the net from two meters, but the linesman raised the flag for an offside checked in the VAR booth.

Until the end, Universitatea still counts through Koljic, who came in place of his compatriot, proving that he is much more in control of the box, but equally incapable of converting. And Mitriță had the same fate, increasingly "rolling" in the vicinity of the last 30 meters. Craiova does not know what to do with the "object of work" and paid in full.

It ends 1-0, after minutes of intense emotions, lived standing up to the "cherry" wind. It was a play-off test for Rapid, and the team from Giulăști climbs to 6th place in the Super League

 Rapid - Universitatea Craiova 1-0

Rapid (3-4-3): Aioani - Cr. Manea, Ciobotariu, Pașcanu - Onea, Christensen, Hromada, Borza - Micovschi, Burmaz, Dobre
Reserves : Siegrist, Briciu, Săpunaru, Iacob, Grameni, Vulturar, Kait, Emmers, Gojkovic, R. Pop, N'Jie
Absent: Petrila (injured), Braun, Ignat (suspended), Boupendza (excluded from the squad)
Coach : Marius Șumudică

 

  • Claudiu Petrila (24 years old) suffered an injury in yesterday's training and is not in the squad for tonight's game

  • Denis Ciobotariu was named the starting player by Marius Șumudică in this match, less than a week after he arrived from Sepsi

Universitatea Craiova (4-2-3-1) : L. Popescu - Mora, Maldonado, Zajkov, Bancu - Oshima, Anzor - Bană, Cicâldău, Mitriță - Lukic
Reserves : S. Lung Jr., Gașpăr, Iago, Badelj, Păcurar, Screciu, Căpățână, Houri, D. Barbu, Koljic
Absent : Baiaram (suspended)
Coach: Costel Gâlcă

Stadium : Superbet Arena - Giulesti
Referee : Marcel Birsan (Bucharest). Assistants: Radu Ghinguleac (Bucharest), Mircea Grigoriu (Bucharest).
VAR Referee: Catalin Popa (Pitesti), VAR Assistant : Andrei Antonie (Bucharest)