Rapid Bucharest edges closer to play-off with 3-1 win
Rapid Bucharest is virtually qualified for the play-off of the Romanian Superliga. Marius Șumudică's side won 3-1 away against Farul Constanța in the 28th round of the league.
Rapid took the lead early in Ovidiu. Alex Dobre won a duel for the ball against Bogdan Țîru and scored in the 8th minute. Farul leveled the score in the 17th minute, with Denis Alibec scoring spectacularly from a superb pass by Victor Dican. The visitors regained the advantage before the break. Elvir Koljic scored with a header from a corner kick delivered by Claudiu Petrila.
In the 68th minute, Rapid was awarded a penalty after Dan Sîrbu handled the ball in the box. Petrila converted the penalty, securing the final score.
"Since I arrived, both the team and I have been under a lot of pressure. It's not easy. You can see what's happening. It's difficult, but I’m proud of what I saw in this match," said Rapid's head coach, Marius Șumudică.
"A massive win for us. Step by step, we're getting closer to the play-off. We’re 5 points ahead of Sepsi, even though they won. It was a hard-fought victory, but now we’re obviously happy," said Rapid player Claudiu Petrila.
Rapid Bucharest is in 6th place in the standings, the final spot that leads to the play-off, 5 points ahead of Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, with 2 rounds left in the regular season.
Sepsi won 2-1 away at UTA Arad. Denis Haruț and Omar El Sawy scored for Sepsi, while Valentin Costache scored for UTA.
After the match, UTA's head coach, Mircea Rednic, was furious and announced that he was ready to resign.
"We sent our juniors to play for a team fighting relegation, and they were sent packing. We don’t have anyone who can make an impact there. Our goal is to stay up. I want to save this team and then move on with my own path, I’m fed up!" said Rednic.
UTA Arad is in 11th place, one point behind Farul Constanța.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
