7/29/2009

Shakhtar Donetsk - Poli 2:2 (0:1)

The white-violets put forth an astounding showcasing of cynical football, which would have been perfect if Bonfim hadn't blundered his way in offering two goals for the home side. In truth though, the result itself is more than we deserved as such and better than most people had hoped for, so there's clearly no reason why miracles shouldn't happen in the second leg.

Bucur scored both of Poli's goals, first after a great play by Parks (who got injured in the mean time) and secondly after a perfect counter-attack, and had he not converted the only two scoring chances we had this evening, it would've been a very different match. Shakhtar had plenty of opportunities, they even hit the post twice, but in the end they took advantage of the aforementioned errors, with Pantilimon helping as well at the second goal.

It's clear that we have to do even better at home to get through, particularly in terms of actual gameplay, but given our limited resources this result is an excellent achievement. There's still room for hope and that's all that I had hoped for.

Poli: Pantilimon (6) - Bonfim (3), Nibombe (6), Cisovsky (6,5), Artiom Karamyan (5,5) - Arm. Karamyan (5,5), Bourceanu (6,5), Alexa (6,5), Curtean (5,5) - Bucur (7,5), Parks (6,5)

Substitutions:

Magera (5) for Parks (min 27)
Stancu (5,5) for Alexa (min 71)
Ionescu for Bucur (min 91)

7/18/2009

Friendlies Report

This will be updated as time goes by.

22.07: Poli - Wigan 2:0 (2:0)

Poli: Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Substitutions:

Luchin for Cisovsky (min 45)

Goals: Arm. Karamyan, Gigel Bucur

Video here.

20.07: Poli - FC Köln 0:2 (0:1)

Poli: Taborda - Bădoi, Scutaru, Brezinsky, Latovlevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsici, Maxim - Ionescu, Magera

Substitutions:

Mera for Brezinsky (min 45)
Cobliș for Taborda (min 45)
Luchin for Vrsici (min 62)
Cojocnean for Magera (min 62)
Chițu for Bădoi (min 67)

Video here.


18.07: Poli - Eintracht Frankfurt 3:0 (1:0)

Poli: Pantilimon - Bonfim, Mera, Luchin, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Substitutions:

Magera pentru Bucur (min 56)
Borbely pentru Alexa (min 70)
Latovlevici pentru Curtean (min 77)
Bădoi pentru Bonfim (min 83)
Scutaru pentru Bourceanu (min 83)
Vrsic pentru Parks (min 83)

Goals: Luchin, Parks, Magera



16.07: Poli - Garmin Sencur 5:1 (2:1)

Poli (mostly first half): Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Magera, Bucur

Poli (second half): Taborda - Badoi, Luchin, Mera, Latovlevici - Popa, Borbely, Vrsici, Stancu - Parks, Ionescu

Goals: Arman Karamyan, Gigel Bucur, Magera, Popa, Ionescu.

Video here.


14.07: Poli - Austria Karnten 7:0 (1:0)

Poli (first half): Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Poli (second half): Taborda - Bădoi, Mera, Luchin, Latovleevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsic, Chițu - Ionescu, Magera

Goals: Arm. Karamyan, Magera, Ionescu, Borbely, Ionescu, Magera and Vrsic

Video here.


08.07: Poli - Debrecen: 1-1 (0-1)

Poli (until 55th minute): Pantilimon - Bădoi, Luchin, Cisovsky, Latovlevici - Arman Karamian, Alexa, Borbely, Artiom Karamian - Magera, G. Bucur

Poli (after 55th minute): Taborda- Bonfim, Nibombe, Stancu, Mera - Abiodun, Vrsic, Curtean (Ionescu?) - Parks, Chitu.

Goal: Vrsic


08.07: Poli - Debrecen 4:0 (0:0)

Poli (until 55th minute): Taborda - Dudaș, Jitaru, Scutaru, Maxim - Popa, Abiodun, Ionescu, Chițu - Amuneke, Mansour

Poli (after 55th minute): Coblia - Bonfim, Mera, Nibombe, Latovlevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsici, Curtean - Magera, Parks

Goals: Magera, Bonfim, Nibombe, Magera

Video here.

CL: Poli - Shakhtar Donetsk

The white-violets will face UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar in the third qualifying round for the Champions' League. The first leg will be played at Donetsk, on the 28th/29th of July and the return leg at Timisoara, one week later.

It should be an interesting match up, even though the Ukrainians were probably the least desirable opponent. I doubt Poli can surprise the world of football with a historic qualification, not after the sparse moves in terms of management during this summer break, but putting up a good fight would be the least we could do. And if that happens, you just never know...

7/01/2009

This is the squad that was chosen by Mr. Sabau to take part in the pre-season training camp at Debrecen, Hungary. It should be noted that Sanchez and Garcia, who had both been on loan at Gloria Buzau, will be released, while Amuneke should be loaned out somewhere.

Goalkeepers: Pantilimon, Coblis, Taborda
Defenders: Stancu, Bădoi, Luchin, Cisovsky, Nibombe, Latovlevici, Maxim, Bonfim, Mera
Midfielders: Abiodun, Curtean, Alexa, Borbely, Vrsic, Artiom Karamyan, Bourceanu, Claudiu Ionescu, Chitu, Jitaru, Dudas
Forwards: Arman Karamyan, Bucur, Parks, Amuneke, Magera, Mansour