Craiova University – UTA 1-2, in round #16 of the Super League: a nightmare for Radoi

After 3-3 from 0-3 in Arad, UTA, abundantly dominated by the University of Craiova, struck in Bănie, winning 2-1.

Chronicle by Marius Mărgărit. Repetitive nightmare

Less than 72 hours after the victory with Rapid Viena, in the Conference League, the football mixer brought Craiova University back to the pitch, this evening, for the match with UTA. That team that gave him a first nightmare at the opening of the season, and that, in Arad, equaled Mirel Rădoi's team, from 0-3.

Meanwhile, along a tour, destiny separated the two teams, the Oltenians continued to lead the Superliga for a while, the Aradians gave way along the way, so now, at the start of the second part of the regular season, the difference between the two was obvious. The Juventus were 6 points behind the leader Rapid, “Old Lady” also the same, but from the last play-off position, now occupied by Farul.

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Goals from two corners

With Baiaram starting, Craiova rushed towards the last third of the guests, but Al Hamlawi, either he arrived too late, or was blocked by Pospelov, or did not hit the target, in about three situations. On the other side, UTA responded with a healthy shot by Costache and raids on the counterattack, a sign that the stubbornness, transmitted by Mihalcea, of not accepting the role of victim in any way remained.

And he even hit after a corner kick, at which the Olta defense blundered, Michael Luke broke away from Baiaram and, from the middle of the box, technically, placed the ball towards Isenko's link.

An unexpected blow that sparked the Olte offensive even more. Who pressed continuously, trying to equalize as quickly as possible. There was danger at Gorcea's gate, but it floated like a paralyzing gas, without taking shape. Baiaram was also close but was overtaken by the energetic Țuțu.

But the Arada redoubt fell a phase later, also at a corner, to which Romanchukwith a strange, horizontal-falling detente, hit his head, making Gorcea's dive useless. A Van Basten execution of Vienna's 3-point man.

And Craiova continued to attack, taking advantage and confusing the guests, only bewildered by the routes of the hosts, but especially by this quick equalization. 70-30 in possession percentage, it's a pressing benchmark after a first half. But on the table it was 1-1.

Punishment after a blind domination

From the cabins, the same football returned to the field. One way, Craiova-Gorcea. At the first corner, Romanchuk was also close to the goal, but the Aradenian goalkeeper was saved by Hrezdac's rejection. The problem of the Aradians is that they were more and more trapped between their own box and the center line, a barbed wire fence drawn by the hosts.

Mora got rid of Padula and was about to release the “lions”, but Gorcea was careful. After an hour, the same balance of possession, but the difference between the xG factor (expected goals) was more than 6 times higher for Olteni. The tension was growing as Craiova completely dominated, but could not score.

UTA defended itself with everything it had. including Gorcea's time-outs during clearances, the only moments when the Arada players crossed the “fence”. Over which they jumped for the first time coherently only in the 65th minute. for only a few tens of seconds.

Radoi had to change, bring something else. Etim, Nsimba and Bancu, fresh forces. Another system, a change that the guests took advantage of, who managed to get out of the blockade. Nsimba could even get “red” after the sole on the tendon of Tsionis, but Szabolcs Kovacs, extremely hesitant the whole match, punished him only with a yellow card. It was clear, the tension was getting more and more oppressive, in the last quarter of an hour, because of the table, which was stuck at 1-1, despite an increasingly nervous siege, but with blind bullets.

VIDEO WITH PHASE. Costache, decisive goal in Craiova – UTA

And on the spaces left by the Olteni, UTA began to draw dangerously again. And on a counter directed by Roman, Costache made peace with a diagonal shot, which Isenko didn't even know how to keep his hands on. A rookie goal.

UTA, nightmare with repetition for Craiova.

It wasn't enough. In a duel with Hrezdac, Cicâldău trampled him. The second “yellow” and the Oltenians remained in 10. They continued to attack, but UTA had also gained the upper hand. Bancu had the equalizer in the ice, but he shot softly. There was so much desperation in the Oltean offensive.

On the sidelines, Mirel Rădoi was biting his nails and did not understand how it was possible to lose this match in which, by the numbers, his team had crushed the opponent. But the only numbers that matter are the ones on the table. Nsimba, Romanchuk, Etim, they all tried. But nothing. The university is losing ground in the race to follow the leader. And UTA climbs up and dreams of the play-off zone again.

FINAL » Craiova University – UTA 1-2

• For live and statistics, click HERE

• They scored: Romanchuk 36 / L. Mihai 24, Costache 76

• 10,842 spectators attend this match, official number

• Steven Nsimba he saw the yellow card just a few minutes after coming on and reached his fourth warning this season, so he will miss the next stage match against FC Argeș

• Alexandru Cicada he saw his second yellow card and was sent off in the 78th minute

• The match was preceded by a moment of silence in memory of Emeric Ienei, who was buried yesterday in Oradea

Craiova University – UTA, starting teams:

University of Craiova (3-5-2): Isenko – Romanchuk, Screciu, Badelj – Mora, D. Matei, Băluță, Cicâldău, F. Ștefan – Assad, Baiaram
reserves: L. Popescu, Stevanovic, Bancu, A. Crețu, A. Rus, Anzor, Teles, Houri, Basceanu, Nsimba, Etim, Mogoș
Absent: M. Rădulescu (injured)
Coach: Mirel Radoi

UTA (4-2-3-1): Gorcea – M. Tuțu, Pospelov, Poulolo, Padula – Hrezdac, L. Mihai – Costache, A. Roman, Tzioni – Abdallah
reserves: Iliev, F. Iacob, Nemga, Alomerovic, Taroi, Vlăsceanu, Ov. Popescu, Stolnik, M. Coman
Abents: Mino Sota, Van Durmen (injured)
Coach: Adrian Mihalcea

Stadium: Ion Oblemenco (Craiova)
Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs // Assistants: Adrian Vornicu, Marius Badea
VAR Referee: Bogdan Dumitrache // AVAR Referee: Horace Fesnic