Team of the matchday - Round 15 (1-3-5-2):
Guso (Universitatea Craiova) - Jercălău (Apulum Alba-Iulia), Maftei (Rapid
București), Pașcovici (Farul Constanța) - Bernard (Politehnica Iași),
Șt.Grigorie (Dinamo București), Mărgăritescu (Dinamo București), Cristocea
(Farul Constanța), Boștină (Steaua București) - Mansour (FCU Poli Timișoara),
D.Niculae (Rapid București)
Vasile Maftei (Rapid București): The captain of Rapid
made a perfect match, annihilating complete the striker of Sportul, Ionut
Mazilu, who didn't have any opportunity to score. After Mazilu was replaced
with Curelea, Maftei didn't give him any chance too, more, he had a few
very good interventions to Gigel Bucur, who passed more times by his maker,
Nae Constantin.
Cosmin Pașcovici (Farul Constanța): With 10 minutes before
the final, Pascovici scored the goal of victory from the match with Alba-Iulia,
helping Farul to finish first part of the championship with 27 points.
Pascovici, who scored last round too, against Rapid, was the best player
from the field, except the goal, succeeding to send the ball in the bar
from free-kick (23 metres), and Cristocea scored. Farul had 2-0, but to
the end of the match the match was draw. Pascovici wasn't agree with that
and entered in penalty box, dribbled a defender and scored. "
I
have dribbled an opponent and my first intention was to cross to Cristocea,
who was free in the middle of the penalty area. But when I saw the goalkeeper
is down I shot. If I would have been a striker, now I would have had at
least 8 goals. Since I have passed to left side, I have more freedom and
I can go often in attack" - said the defender of the "saylors".
Daniel Niculae (Rapid București): The international player
was the man of the match and Dutch Ruud Krol (the chief of scouting department
of Ajax Amsterdam) who came in Giulesti especially to watch "Nico"
went home impressed by his play. In 16 minute, Niculae dribbled two opponents
and shot, the ball hitting the transverse bar of Stancioiu. He scored
the first goal in 49 minute, Badoiu crossed perfect and from 5 metres
Niculae headed in the net. With 8 minutes before the end, Secareanu made
a mistake and Niculae took the ball, entered in penalty area and shot
powerful. He scored this season 13 goals, being leader in the top-scorers
table.
The two teams made a spectacular match, but Sportul was underprivileged
by the referee Alexandru Tudor, who favoured clear Rapid. In 32 minute,
after a duel Ciupe-Niculae, Tudor gave penalty kick, Sabin Ilie opening
the score. The officials of Rapid were stunned because they could a penalty
kick so easy. In second half, Niculae scored after a posision suspected
of off-side, then, after Costin Lazăr was fault clear in the penalty box
of Rapid by Vasile Maftei, the referee Tudor didn't see the phase. The
coach of Sportul, Dan Petrescu, entered to the field, protesting vehement,
escpecially the same referee underprivileged him in the match with Steaua
too.