In a closely contested match, FCSB edged out Oțelul 1-0 as Rui Duarte, the visiting team’s coach, reflected on the defeat during his debut on the bench for Galați. The match, held at Arena Națională, proved challenging for Oțelul, particularly after a crucial red card.
Duarte explained that his team aimed to maintain a high defensive line during the first half, but the spaces left between the lines were effectively exploited by FCSB. He noted that the dismissal of player Sylla significantly hindered his team’s performance.
“It Became Much Harder After the Red Card”
According to Duarte, “It was a tough match for us. In the first half, we tried to keep a high line, but there were too many gaps, making it easy for them to exploit our weaknesses. After adjusting our game, the red card made management much more challenging.” Oțelul found itself down to ten men in the 52nd minute, and FCSB capitalized on this advantage, scoring in the 65th minute with a goal from Alexandru Stoian.
“We Need to Improve Going Forward”
The coach acknowledged that despite attempts to defend after the red card, Oțelul made critical mistakes when they had possession. “We tried to defend, but I believe we made two mistakes while having the ball. We must be much better in the future,” he stated.
Duarte also commented on Sylla’s sending-off, agreeing with the referee’s decision. “Before the corner, Miguel had the ball. I believe Sylla deserved the red card. He shouldn’t have slid in, just needed to touch the ball. He was already on a yellow card, and I explained the same to him,” he explained.
“We played against a strong team in a large stadium. We will perform better step by step in the future.” – Rui Duarte, coach of Oțelul Galați
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