Cezar Titor article – published Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 17:16 / Updated Wednesday, August 27, 2025 17:17
The day of August 27 has a special significance for Romanian football, linking two contrasting stories. It is the day of the “miracle of Librec”, when Dinamo, forced to go on the road with a 0-3 dictated at the “green table” after the incidents caused by the supporters in the tour, managed to return the fate of the field qualification, winning incredible 3-0 in the Czech Republic.
But it is also the day of a red-blue nightmare: FCSB missed the access to the Champions League groups in front of Ludogorets, after an unbelievable moment, the defender Cosmin Moţi, entered the gate for the Bulgarians at the breaks, became a hero, appearing two penalties and pushing his team to history.
How was the “miracle from Librec” performed
The Europa League play-off, August 20, 2009, Stefan cel Mare. Dinamo – Slovan Liborec. Liska opened the score in the 5th minute for Czechs, and Blazek doubled the advantage in the 83rd minute, after easily passed Pulhac, Dolha and Tamas.
It was too much for the supporters of the “dogs”, already irritated by the modest results of the last period. In the 88th minute, the match was interrupted, after the fans in the lawn “Cătălin Hîldan” entered the athletics track. UEFA dictated the victory at the “Green Mass” for Slovan Liborec, score 3-0.
In return, Dinamo started without great hopes. However, Andrei Cristea gave the signal to return from the 2nd minute, and Marius Niculae managed a “Doppietta” in the second half, taking the match in extensions. There, Florin Matache, Dario Bonetti's spare goalkeeper, became a hero, with spectacular parades that have kept the hope of qualification alive.
I remember with pleasure and joy of that match. It was a reference moment for me and the team. Unfortunately, that remained the last qualification of Dinamo in the groups of a European competition … Any goal received would have meant elimination. They also had a bar, I rejected a few more balls, they fired in me … Each of us gave and sacrificed for a common goal, and in the end it came out.
– Florin Matache, in an interview with Gazeta, on the 15-year anniversary of the event
The qualification was decided on the breaks. Dinamo has transformed through Marius Niculae, Boștina, Torje, Claudiu Niculescu, Moți, Dragoș Grigore, Djakaridja Kone, Diabate Zie and Francisco Molinero, the only one who missed being Zicu. On the Czech side, Gecov and Liska were wrong. Thus, Dinamo was able to have an unlikely qualification in the Europa League groups, the last, otherwise, recorded until today.
Ludogorets – FCSB, red -blue nightmare, with protagonist motions
Five years later, on the same date of August 27, history would offer a new dramatic chapter. After the victory with 1-0 obtained on the National Arena, through the goal of Alex Chipciu (today at the University of Cluj), the red-blue ones started favorite in Sofia, on “Vasil Levski”, in front of Ludogorets.
The match was balanced, with periods of domination divided between the two teams. Everything seemed to go to the qualification of the red-blue, but in the 90th minute, Wanderson sent a spectacular volley from outside the box, without chances for Arlauskis, pushing the duel into extensions.
The two bands seemed more concerned not to make mistakes than attack, until, in the 118th minute, the Bulgarian goalkeeper was eliminated for a foul from the last defender in Varela. Then the madness began: defender Cosmin Moţi put his gloves and entered the gate.
The extensions ended without a goal, and the fate decided on penalties. Moţi opened the series for Bulgarians and transformed, followed by Hamza, Junior, Marcelinho, Dyakov and Espinho. For Ludogoreț missed Wanderson, But at FCSB, Pîrvulescu and Rîpă failed to score in front of Moţi. Only Keșeru, Szukala, Adi Popa, Varela and Prepeliță scored.
