Farul Constanța – Rapid 3-1 » Gâlcă's team has forgotten football and is losing ground in the fight for the title

They quickly give up the second position in the ranking to Dinamo, due to the goal difference, Farul reaches, at least temporarily, 5 points away from the last place in the play-off: mission impossible, but there is a chance for an extremis comeback of the band from the shores of the Black Sea.

Chronicle by Cezar Titor, from Constanța » Without the “handcuffs” of the play-off idea, the Lighthouse shines again

On the quiet shore of Lake Siutghiol, where the salty breeze seems to mix memories with ambitions, the Lighthouse went out to sea with crumpled pride, but with the hope that it can salvage something, anything, from this season.

With purely mathematical chances in the play-off, after the late failures with Dinamo and Unirea Slobozia, after the shipwreck in the Romanian Cup, Ianis Zicu is looking to right his ship in front of Rapid, an opponent caught in the fight for the title, but who was also shaken by the waves of bitter draws in “Primvs Derby” and in Gruia, 1-1 with CFR Cluj, a result synonymous with elimination from the Romanian Cup, declared objective of the people of Giulești.

The arena on the waterfront has been, over the years, a port of memorable duels between Farul and Rapid, and the evening wind seemed to bring back the echo of that 7-2 in May 2023, when the “sailors” put a hand on the Super League trophy and then set off for their second crowning. The Lighthouse – Rapid, from the shore of the Black Sea, February 15, 2026.

Rapid did not look like a contender for the title, Farul looked like a play-off team

Excellent start to the game. After Talisson's chance in the 5th minute, Farul caught wind in their sails and quickly took control of the game, ticking off two huge chances. First, Gustavo restarted with his head, dangerously, after a textbook cross from Radaslavescu, and then Ișfan rattled Aioani's left post with a violent shot from the edge of the box. There was no room to breathe, the attacks followed one another at a dizzying pace, with a dynamic worthy of a handball match.

The 13th minute also brought the first notable intervention of Rafael Munteanu, the goalkeeper of Dobrogenes, starting for the first time in L1, who rejected Grameni's shot from the center of the box with his foot. The midfielder had popped up to finish after Talisson's excellent foray down the right lane in a spectacular start to the game on the seaside.

In the 20th minute, Ișfan opened the scoring with a fine execution: he elegantly overtook Pașcanu, escaped alone with Aioani and finished with an exquisite shot, leading the “sailors” to the advantage, 1-0.

The prodigal son returns home and punishes his former team

For months there has been discussion about the problem of the striker at Rapid. Here is that, if necessary, Borza, a player launched in big football at Ovidiu, can also appear in this position.

After a specific foray into the lane, Petrila decisively sent it to Borza, who put it wide from a few meters for 1-1. In fact, the full-back from Giulești was one of the most active people in the first half, being constantly seen in the role of an inter. It was also his first goal of the current season.

Alibec and Vîna derail Rapidul from the title fight

Before the break, Denis Alibec, the contested “cult hero” from the seaside, was close to making it 2-1 from a free kick, a procedure that has become a trademark for the former FCSB player.

What he didn't succeed from the edge of the square he succeeded from the point with lime. After a foul committed by Iliev, who replaced the injured Aioani, on Gustavo Marins in the penalty area, Alibec took responsibility for the execution and made the score 2-1 just before entering the booths. Simple execution, in force, on the center of the goal.

In the 53rd minute, Ionuț Vînă did it again: a refined execution from outside the box, with the cross, placing the ball perfectly in the left corner of Iliev's goal. However, the Giulești team seemed numb, with a total void in the midfield, too many sterile offensive touches and a defense devoid of aggression, unable to react. Things to think about for Costel Gâlcă, before the start of the play-off.

After the #3 goal of the “sailors”, Rapid was more combinative, but with the permission of the Dobrogens, withdrawn in defense. However, the people from Giulio did not create any scoring chances, constantly hitting the impenetrable block of the people from Constanta, in the last 20 meters. Zicu's boys were also more dangerous, in the sporadic counterattacks. Neither Moruțan's nor Paraschiv's entries had the expected effect. It ended 3-1, fair result.

FINAL » Farul – Rapid 3-1

90th minute: Referee Szabolcs Kovacs stops the game due to racist chants from the Lighthouse fans. At the next violation, most likely, the center will interrupt the match for good.
80th minute: Petrila sends the ball well over the goal, after a period in which both teams practiced a combined game, without dangerous opportunities. Rapid seems without moisture, with Moruțan recently entered the field, while Farul defends exemplary.
The 53rd minute: GOL The lighthouse! Nice counterattack from Constanta! Alibec passes to Radaslavescu, who, alone with the goalkeeper, fails to finish. The folded Petrila dispossess him, but loses the ball, and Ișfan passes to Ionuț Vînă, who shoots precisely from outside the box, on foot, leaving Iliev without a reaction.
Minute 45+4: GOL Farul! Denis Alibec converts the kick from 11 meters with a powerful shot and scores his third goal in the four games since his return to the Lighthouse.
Minute 45+2: Dejan Iliev, the goalkeeper who replaced the injured Aioani, takes a corner and tries to box the ball, but misses completely and hits Gustavo Marins, the center back of Farulu.

Minute 45: Denis Alibec executes a dangerous free kick, but Iliev, coming in for Aioani, rejects the ball.
Minute 40: Quick GOAL! Andrei Borza, the former left defender of Farului, brings the equalizer after a phase built on the left side. On an excellent pass from Petrila, Borza finishes and scores his first goal of the season.
Minute 36: Alex Dobre “steals” the ball from Talisson, who was in an ideal position, and heads it again, but sends the ball over the Faralu goal, missing the chance to equalize.
20th minute: GOL Farul! Alexandru Ișfan ridicules Pașcanu, escapes alone with Aioani and scores elegantly with a ladder. Superb goal by Ianis Zicu's student.

The 13th minute: Opportunity also for Rapid. Talisson sends into the center of the box, where Grameni appears to finish. Rafael Munteanu rejects with his foot.
Minute 9: With a well-placed shot from the edge of the box, Ișfan hits the crossbar. A huge new chance for the Lighthouse. Immediately after, Radaslavescu tries to the short corner, Aioani rejects in the corner.
Minute 8: Radaslavescu crosses excellently, Gustavo sends a little wide, also with his head. The match started on an excellent note.

Minute 5: Talisson, close to the first goal in the white and cherry jersey. Petrila crosses from the wing, Talisson heads in from close range, unmarked.
Minute 4: The first warning of the game. Dican “staples” Manea and Szabolcs Kovacs issues the first warning.
The game has started!

Update, 16:00 » The players of the two formations went out to inspect the lawn

Farul – Rapid, the starting teams:

Lighthouse (4-3-3): R. Munteanu – D. Maftei, I. Larie, Gustavo Marins, L. Pellegrini – Vînă, Dican, Radaslavescu – Işfan, Alibec, C. Ganea
Reserves: Buzbuchi, Ş. Duțu, Tîru, Fotin, Sîrbu, Ramalho, Banu, Goncear, Doicaru, Sima, Vojtus, Markovic
Coach: Ianis Zicu

Quick (4-3-3): Aioani – Manea, Pașcanu, Ciubotariu, Borza – Christensen, Keita, Grameni – Dobre, Talisson, Petrila
reserves: Iliev, Briciu, Bolgado, Onea, Vulturar, Hromada, G. GHeorghe, A. Șucu, Moruțan, Hazrollaj, Paraschiv
Coach: Constantin Galca

Referee: Kovacs Szabolcs (Carrie)
ASSISTANT: Badea Marius (Râmnicu Vâlcea) and Corb Ioan Alexandru (Satu Mare)
VAR referee: Popa Cătălin (Pitesti)
Assistant VAR: Marinescu Vasile (Bucharest)
Book: Constantin Olaru
Game observer: Viorel to Anghelina
Observer referees: Nicolae Marodin