The football teams representing Romania in Europa League
qualifiers have had an auspicious start in the competition. In the first leg of
the first preliminary round, Universitatea Craiova grabbed a precious 3-2 away
win against their Azeri opponents, Sabail. In the southern Romanian town of
Giurgiu and also on home turf, FCSB defeated Milsami Orhei of Republic of
Moldova, 2-nil.
For Universitatea Craiova, it was the first win in a
European competition in the last 26 years. Craiova clearly proved they can have
the upper hand on the pitch quite all right, and their head-coach Corneliu Papura
said his team could have scored a few more goals. Alexandru Mateiu, Nicusor Banc
and Mihai Roman scored for Universitatea, while Aghabala Ramazanov scored two
goals for Sabail. The second leg is scheduled in Craiova on July 18. If they
eliminate Sabail, in the second preliminary round Universitatea will face the
winner of the match pitting Lithuania’s Žalgiris Vilnius and Honved Budapest of
Hungary. On Thursday, Honved grabbed a 3-1 home win.
FCSB ranked as favorite in the match against Milsami Orhei.
The team from Bucharest compelled recognition thanks to the two goals scored by
Florin Tanase, and still is the favorite team to making headway into the Europa
League’s next stage. The score board could have shown more goals in favor of
the Romanians, since FCSB wasted a few more opportunities to score. From minute
72, Romania’s vice-champion team was one man shy as Lucian Filip got
yellow-booked for the second time around, ten minutes after he was sent on the
pitch. If they oust Milsami from the competition, FCSB will play in the second
preliminary round with the winner of the match pitting Armenian side Alashkert
against Makedonia Skopje, a team from North Macedonia. In Yerevan on Thursday, Alashkert
grabbed a 3-1 win.
This coming weekend will see matches being played, counting
towards a new edition of the domestic football championship. On Friday, FC Voluntari take on Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe. On Saturday, Astra take on FC Botosani
on home turf, while CFR Cluj are pitted against Poli Iasi, also on home turf.
On Sunday, Universitatea Craiova play Academica Clinceni, on home turf, while
FCSB travel to Pitesti, for a fixture against FC Hermannstadt. The round’s two
last matches are scheduled on Monday, when Gaz Metan Medias play Chindia Targoviste and Viitorul Constanta take on Dinamo Bucharest.