Steel 0-2 » Frozen leader! Rapid made a nightmare match, and the Galatians get a generic victory

Chronicle by Sergiu Alexandru: Fast, frozen leader

What was supposed to be an evening of celebration for Rapid, the last match of the year in Giulești and the possibility of finishing 2025 in first place turned into a nightmare evening for the people of Giulești.

Fast, no ideas

The first 45 minutes showed that Rapid need major changes in the winter break to hope for the title. And probably the coach Costel Gâlcă conveyed to Santa Claus, present at the match and the one who gave the kick-off, what he wants. It remains to be seen if his name is on the list of good ones and he will get what he wants.

After 15 minutes of groping, stupor in Giulesti. In the 17th minute, the Galatasarays struck, after a phase gone from their half. Bordun was excellently found behind the speedy defense, and from the corner of the box he turned the ball 12 meters away. From there, Pedro, completely unmarked, shot perfectly under the bar.

Just an optical illusion

Until the break, the Rapid fans hoped in vain for the equalizing goal. Not only were Gâlcă's students unable to score, but they also failed to shoot on goal. The only notable moment came in extra time when Christensen shot from 13 yards but the ball hit the side netting.

Koljic, the first opportunity

Immediately after the break, Rapid could equalize through Koljic. After an excellent cross from Manea, Koljic could not beat Dur-Bozoanca. The Rapid forward headed the ball again, from 6 meters, directly into the Oțelu goalkeeper. Then it was the visitors' turn to have three great chances to score, in the 57th and 59th minutes. First, Paulinho hit the crossbar from 6 yards. Later, Aioani intervened decisively twice. Once to Bordun's shot, then to Paulinho's header.

VIDEO. Paul Iacob, what revenge!

• Video source: PrimaSport 1

But Rapid's goalkeeper had nothing to do in the 80th minute. When Paul Iacob, the defender expelled from Giulesti, scored a generic goal. From 23 meters, from a free kick, he shot perfectly, under the bar! And it capped off a nightmare evening for Rapid, who showed their vulnerabilities.

Rapid – Steel 0-2

• Click HERE for statistics
• 8,137 fans (official figure) are present at the match
• They scored: Pedro 17, P. Iacob 80

VIDEO. Paul Iacob, generic goal in Rapid – Oțelul

• Video source: PrimaSport 1

• min. 80: GOL The Steel! From a free kick from 24 meters, Paul Iacob made it 2-0. The defender sent directly to the goal, and the ball went under the bar, and Aioani had nothing to do, being fooled by the effect. A former Rapid player, Iacob was not happy about the goal

• min. 59: Double opportunity for the Steel. Aioani rejected Bordun's shot from 12 meters under the bar. He then parried Paulinho's header

• min. 57: Steel goes past 2-0. Paulinho shot on the bar, from 6 meters

• 49 min: After an excellent cross from Manea, Koljic could not beat Dur-Bozoanca. The Rapid forward headed the ball again, from 6 meters, directly into the Oțelu goalkeeper

• min. 46: Start in the second half. Two changes to Rapid. Borza entered, received with applause, and Vulturar, and Badescu and Gojkovic left

• min. 45+1: Break. After the referee Cristian Moldoveanu blew the whistle for the end of the first half, the Rapid supporters erupted and booed and cursed the referee as he walked towards the dressing room
• min. 45: Rapid's biggest opportunity. Christensen shot from 13 yards. The ball hit the side netting. Some fans saw the goal and celebrated, while the players protested for a corner
• min. 36: Steel could make it 2-0. Aioani weakly rejected a modest shot from the edge of the box to the side. The ball reached Bordun, but he shot well over the goal, from 4 meters

• min. 27: The match was stopped two minutes after Gojkovic charged a shot after a counter by Andrezinho. The Rapid midfielder was lying on the grass and the intervention of doctors was needed. But the match continues
  min. 25: Dobre looks for the goal from 18 meters. His shot goes wide, deflected by an opponent
• min. 17: GOL The Steel! The Galatians opened the scoring after a phase away from their half. Bordun was excellently found behind the speedy defense, and from the corner of the box he turned the ball 12 meters away. From there, Pedro, completely unmarked, shot perfectly under the bar
• min. 5: Petrila has the first opportunity. Shoots just wide from 14 yards

The starting teams at Rapid – Oțelul

Rapid (4-3-3): Aioani – Manea, Ciobotariu, Kramer, Badescu – Christensen, K. Keita, Gojkovic – Dobre, Koljic, Petrila
Reserves: Stolz, Borza, Bolgado, Onea, Braun, Ignat, Vulturar, G. Gheorghe, Grameni, R. Pop, Micovschi, Jambor
Absent: Baroan (out of the squad), Burmaz, Hazrollaj, Mendes, Pašcanu (injured), Hromada
Coach: Costel Gâlcă

The steel (4-2-3-1): Dur-Bozoancă – Andrei Rus, Zivulic, P. Iacob, Conrado – J. Paulo, Lameira – Bordun, Pedro, Andrezinho – Paulinho
reserves: Popescu, Ursu, E. Neicu, C. Neicu, Patrick, Chira, Funza, Postelnic, A. Ciobanu, D. Sandu
Absent: Zhelev (suspended)
Coach: Laszlo Balint

Stadium: Giulesti
Referee: Moldoveanu Cristian (Sfântu Gheorghe – Covasna)
ASSISTANT: Neacșu George Florin (Câmpulung Muscel – Argeş), Neacșu Ionuț Traian (Bucureşti – Bucharest)
VAR referee: Petrescu Radu (Bucharest – Bucharest)
Referee AVAR: Rusandu Lucian (Sfântu Gheorghe – Covasna)
R1: Robu Ovidiu (Chitila – Ilfov)
R2: ( – )
Obs. referees: Constantin Augustus (Râmnicu Vâlcea – Vâlcea)

UPDATE 20:35 » What a scenography the Galatians have prepared

Around 500 Oțel fans came to Giulesti. At the beginning of the match, they displayed a scenography on the entire sector dedicated to them, lit some torches and threw a firecracker.

UPDATE 20:30 » Santa Claus kicked off

The match started with an unusual moment. The starting kick of the match was given by none other than Santa Claus, to the delight of the fans present in Giulesti

UPDATE at 20:00 » Şucu and Angelescu, together with La players

Dan Șucu and Victor Angelescu, the two shareholders of the club, also arrived at Rapid's last home match in 2025. And they took their seats in the official stand, waiting for the starting whistle.

UPDATE at 19:10 » The players went out to inspect the turf

UPDATE at 19:05. Holiday atmosphere in Giulesti

There is a festive atmosphere in Giulești. The firs are cherry and the globes white. For Rapid it is the last match here this year. The next stage will be against FCSB, at the National Arena.

UPDATE at 18:55. The Steel players arrived in Giulesti

UPDATE at 18:35. The first images from Giulesti

Two hours before the match, only carols can be heard in the stadium. The starting kick will be given by “Santa Claus”. The spirit of the holidays has also reached the VIP Experience, where beauf salad, sarmale with polenta and cozonac are served. Rapidists put up installations and decorated cherry trees.

UPDATE | 17:00 Rapid team for the match with Oțelul Galati

Rapid announced through social networks the squad for the match with Oțelul Galați: “The squad for the match with Oțelul. Alexandru Pașcanu, Jakub Hromada, Drilon Hazrollaj, Borisav Burmaz and ⁠Diogo Mendes are unavailable. Antoine Baroan is excluded from the squad”, was the communique from Giulești.

Up-to-date standings in the Superliga