Romanian Cup 2009-2010

With one hour before the match, it rained with ice an destroyed the pitch, but "Emil Alexandrescu" stadium was filled up for the last match of the season. Wesley had the first opportunity for FC Vaslui even in second minute, when his shot from 25 meters missed the post of Nuno Claro with a few cm. The response of CFR came one minute later, through Culio, who shot beside the post from the edge of the box. Gheorghiu was close to score in 12th minute and Muresan has balanced the report of opportunities three minutes later. Until the break, Raul Costin and Lucian Sanmartean missed to open the score for FC Vaslui, and Deac, Cadu and De Zerbi wasted opportunities for the new champions of Romania. Second half was even more animated, the two teams offering a more spectacular football. Scoring opportunities have multiplied, as it was natural, to both posts. The first team who missed was CFR, but then it followed a difficult period for the champions, because FC Vaslui pressed the post of Nuno Claro for several minutes. But the keeper remained without goal at the huge opportunities of Papp and Gheorghiu, and in 67th minute the goalkeeper of CFR was saved by the bar after the header of Gladstone. The players coached by Marius Lacatus asked a penalty kick after Pavlovic was fouled by Gabriel Muresan, but referee Alexandru Deaconu let the game to continue. FC Vaslui continued to play well and gradually have imposed their rhythm, continuing to threaten the post of CFR. But Gheorghiu and Wesley couldn't defeat Nuno Claro, the shot of the first being caught by goalkeeper right on the post line, while Wesley's execution passed beside the post with a few cm in 83rd minute. The match needed extra time and coach Mandorlini changed the attack right after the break, sending Bud in the place of De Zerbi. But the attack of CFR was almost nonexistent, because FC Vaslui remained dangerous. The match has played at a single post, but Nuno Claro was lucky at the opportunities of Burdujan and Wesley. For CFR, only Deac had an opportunity. Seeing that his team has no chance to score, the coach of CFR sent Nicolae Dica on the field in last minutes, but not to open the attack of CFR, but to have a player with experience for penalty kicks. Milisavljevic was the first who executed penalty shots, but he missed, Nuno Claro rejecting the shot sent to right corner. Then all the rest of the players have scored, Gabi Muresan, Denis Zmeu, Nicolae Dica, Raul Costin, Cipri Deac, Lucian Burdujan, Cristi Bud, Wesley Lopes, captain Ricardo Cadu being the player who scored the decisive goal who brought the victory of CFR.

Andrea Mandorlini, coach of CFR Cluj: "It was a difficult game on a difficult pitch. I expected to play more than 90 minutes, but I knew that finals are not beautiful games. Important is to win, not how you play. The title is more important for us than this Cup of Romania, because the title lead us to Champions League groups. I'm glad that I succeeded as foreign coach to win both trophies, like Ancelotti in England and Mourinho in Italy. I congratulate Lacatus because his team made a very good game. FC Vaslui were a difficult opponent in championship too".

Marius Lăcătuș, coach of FC Vaslui: "I am happy with the game of my players. We really wanted to win. We had more opportunities than our opponents and my boys did everything to win. I want to thank them for the third place from Liga 1 and for their game from the final of Romanian Cup".