Article by Romeo Ene – Published Sunday, May 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m. / Updated Sunday, May 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
FC Botoșani – Petrolul 1-1. The coach of the guests, Mehmet Topal, offered the first reaction after the draw in Moldova. He especially wanted to thank the goalkeeper Balbarau River (25 years old), the one who had several life-saving interventions.
The most important came in the last phase, when he made an incredible block on Hervin Ongenda. About the match, Topal said that he is satisfied with the result and calls the supporters to the last match of this season.
Petrol receives a visit from Oțelul Galati and also avoids the maintenance dam if it becomes necessary.
Mehmet Topal, statements after FC Botoșani – Petrolul 1-1: “This is our only objective”
“And if we lost, it was hard to motivate ourselves for the next match. But the important thing is that my players tried to give everything. Sometimes, in matches like this, it's not the performance of the players that matters, it's the desire.
It was a match that I could win, but in the last 2-3 stages I was unlucky, bad luck, I don't know what to say
We played with a good team, especially at home they play very well and they needed points. In the end it was a balanced fight, especially in the last 4-5 minutes.
We have protected the result and thank the players for their attitude. There's one more game, we're waiting to see all our supporters and win the last game and stay in League 1. That's our only goal.
We prepare all week to do our best, to give everything, to win the last game. At the last stage, Bălbarău saved our lives. Like confidence, a failure could drag us down. There were some phases where he saved us and all the players have to thank him in addition.
It's a good system with play-offs and play-outs, but a bit stressful. From time to time there were difficult moments, but if we look in general and analyze, it's a good system”, said Mehmet Topal at Prima Sport.
Petrolul is currently in 13th place, the first of the dam, tied with Farul Constanța.
It should be noted that the Ploiesti team will finish above the Constanta team if they get the same result as Stoican's students because they did not benefit from rounding off when entering the play-out. The lighthouse receives a visit from Metaloglobus.
Ranking in the play-out
