Article by Alexandru Barbu – Published Friday, 07 November 2025, 14:41 / Updated Friday, 07 November 2025 14:42
“I have never kept anyone in the wall, nor has anyone kept me”, declared today, at GSP Live, Raul Rusescu, three-time champion of Romania.
FCSB got off to a bad start the match in Switzerland (1-3 with Basel). Ștefan Târnovanu was eliminated from the 12th minute, for a foul committed outside the box. At the free kick executed by Xherdan Shaqiri, the ball hit Ngezana in the handwho was trying to pull Bîrligea closer to him.
VIDEO | Raul Rusescu: “It's been a while since I've been in the wall, maybe things have changed” 😂
The former striker from FCSB says that throughout his career he has not experienced such a situation.
“I also stood in the wall and I never held anyone, nor did anyone hold me. I don't know what Ngezana wanted to do. He caught him by the hand… he had his hand on Bîrligea from the beginning, so that they wouldn't separate. When Bîrligea moved away, Ngezana left with her hand, she stayed there with her hand… It's been a while since we stayed in the wall, maybe things have changed (no – laughs).
It's a shame… if the wall stayed compact, it was a mediocre free-kick execution by Shaqiri. A cascade of misinterpretations and errors at that stage, and it becomes 0-1. Then, contrary to expectations, FCSB played very well, even in numerical inferiority”, said Rusescu, at GSP Live.
Last night I saw two Romanian teams playing well. Both Basel and Rapid Vienna were inferior to us. Craiova has a better chance of qualifying now than FCSB, but the champion can also reach the Europa League play-off
– Raul Rusescu
Ngezana's goal in Basel – FCSB
Referee Juxhin Xhaja did not initially see the foul committed by Ngezana, he was called to the VAR monitor to watch the phase once more and awarded the penalty. Shaqiri scored from 11 meters with a “ladder” attempt that fooled Zima.
Basel – FCSB ended 3-1, in the 4th round of the Europa League main draw.
