Florin Costea leads Universitatea Craiova to victory over CS Otopeni

Universitatea Craiova maintain their spot in the Europa League with a tight 1-0 victory over CS Otopeni.

With the match deadlocked Florin Costea found the winning touch with twelve minutes remaining as he redirected Florin Costin Şoava's effort from the left into the net from the edge of the six yard box.

Universitatea Craiova returns to action against Gloria Buzău on Saturday whilst CS Otopeni welcomes Dan Petrescu's Unirea Urziceni.

Viorel Hizo leads Rapid Bucureşti to victory over CS Otopeni

Once again Viorel Hizo came to rescue as the sixty-two year-old manager returned to lead Rapid Bucureşti for this fifth stint. Following the dreadful loss to Gaz Metan Mediaş, the wise veteran leader took charge and in his first match in-charge Rapid responded with an emphatic 3-0 devastation of CS Otopeni. The result pulls Rapid to within three points of CFR Cluj in the final Europa League spot.

After a scoring opening half Rapid took charge with João Paulo Andrade, on-loan from Porto, sent a powerful drive into the back of the net from twenty-five plus metres. Only six minutes later superb young product Lucian Răduţă gave Mr. Hizo reason to cheer as he scooped up a rebound of a João Paulo Andrade blocked attempt and drove the ball in from just inside the area. A minute into added time Ştefan Grigorie made it 3-0 as he took advantage of a similar loose ball and drove it in from fourteen metres.

Liviu Ganea leads CS Otopeni to victory over Gloria Buzău

The battle of the pride for the bottom two sides of Liga 1, CS Otopeni and Gloria Buzău ended with Otopeni winning 2-0.

With safety highly unlikely for Otopeni and Buzău already doomed to the drop the match certainly was off the beaten track. However Otopeni, lead by their superb young striker Liviu Ganea can make claim to their third victory in the difficult season. Twenty minutes into the match the twenty-one year-old striker Ganea drove the ball to the top left corner two metres beyond the area. Only fourteen minutes later, Jean Paul Yontcha effort from the far right was too much for Buzău 'keeper to handle and Ganea calmly drove the ball in from close range.

Pantelis Kapetanos gives Steaua Bucureşti 1-0 victory over CS Otopeni

Steaua Bucureşti grabbed a last gasp 1-0 victory over CS Otopeni with Pantelis Kapetanos finding the mark a minute into added time. With the victory Steaua are level with Rapid and only a point behind Universitatea Craiova for the final Europa League spot.

With the match seemingly destined for a scoreless draw former AEK Athens-man Pantelis Kapetanos rescued the three points as accepted George Ogăraru's long cross at the top of the box and after chesting the ball down, turned and fired into the bottom right corner.

Steaua return to play next Saturday against Oţelul Galaţi whilst CS Otopeni faces
Gloria Buzău.

Gaz Metan Mediaş continues fight to avoid relegation

Coming off a tough loss on the weekend to Steaua Bucureşti, Gaz Metan Mediaş is proving that they are not about to be relegated without a fight as they devastated CS Otopeni 3-0 today. After a scoreless opening half Zarko Marković broke the deadlock four minutes after the restart as he headed-in Eric's corner was headed back to him by Grillo Edson to send in from three metres. Only two minutes later Cristian Bud continued with his impressive form as he was played through by Marković and slotted the ball past 'keeper Cristian Munteanu from seven metres. Bud continued to pose problems and added his second of the day with eighteen minutes remaining he hammered in a booming shot from thirty metres to make it 3-0.

On Monday CS Otopeni welcomes Steaua Bucureşti while Gaz Metan Mediaş continues their fight for safety against Gloria Buzău in a massive six-point encounter.