Otelul Galati - Poli 2:2 (2:1)

Galati is never an easy place to play at, especially if you decide to make your time there more difficult than it should be.

After Karamyan's early goal, thanks to a good move by Rusic, Stancu and Bucur, things should've been easier, but they weren't, because Brezinsky managed to score a fairly avoidable own goal ten minutes later. After Karamyan wasted a good opportunity a minute later, the home side managed to score once more, this time after Borbely (?) lost his man Viglianti, and the Argentine score with a shot from just outside the penalty area. Borbely, Bucur and Magera could've scored until half-time, but it wasn't to be, and this meant the white-violets had a lot to work at in the remaining forty-five mintues.
However, the only thing that changed after half time was that Poli were becoming more erratic and Otelul was getting much closer to Pantilimon's goal after the plentiful failed offensive moves of Uhrin's men. Our goalie had to make some amazing saves at three very, very good chances of the home side, but the young U21 international - recently called up to the senior national side - dealt with the situations excellently. Cisovsky was the only one to put opposite goalie Kolev to the test in the 87th minute, when he made an impetuous run, only to have his shot saved. Nothing would stop Gigel Bucur though in the last minute of extra-time, when Parks and Cisovsky built up a good opportunity, and our top-striker was at the right place when a deflection reached him to score the equalizer!

So it was a hard earned point, but a good one, nonetheless, after an open game with quite a few scoring chances. Everyone will be thinking of the match against arch-rivals Dinamo now, hoping for the victory we've been looking for over the last decade.


Poli: Pantilimon (7) - Badoi (6,5), Cisovsky (7), Brezinsky (4,5), Milhazes (4) - Stancu (6), Magera (5), Borbely (4,5), Art. Karamyan (6,5) - Bucur (6), Rusic (5,5).

Goga (5), Parks (6) and Arm. Karamyan replaced Stancu, Rusici and Magera.



Karamyan goal (min 7):



Brezinsky own goal (min 19):



Viglianti goal (min 26):



Bucur goal (min 93):




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Bucur chance (min 37):



Iorga chance (min 57):



Chances of Gado and Tanasa (min 67):



Pena chance (min 77):