FC Timişoara advances in the Cupa României with win over Dinamo Bucureşti

Gabi Balint's FC Timişoara defeated Dinamo Bucureşti 4-1 in the semi-finals of the Cupa României (Romanian Cup).

Lukáš Magera gave Timişoara the 1-0 lead five minutes for the half hour mark as he pounced on Gigel Bucur's effort that pounded off the post and sent the ball in immediately. Timişoara doubled its lead on the hour as Iasmin Latovlevici took advantage of the poor clearance from Dinamo and after moving to the left side of the area, sent a low cross for Abiodun Agunbiade who promptly drove the ball to the left corner of the net from twelve metres. The Roş-albii brought the match within one as Adrian Cristea surged into the six-yard box box to head-in Osvaldo Miranda long cross from the left with eighteen minutes remaining. However only eight minutes later Timişoara restored its two goal margin as Winston Parks received a long diagonal cross on the edge of the Dinamo area before working down the bye-line and centering the ball for Gigel Bucur who volleyed the ball in from twelve metres. With four minutes remaining in the match Florin Maxim free-kick into the box was nodded in by Daré Nibombé to bring the match to its final 4-1 score.

Arman Karamyan leads FC Timişoara to victory

Gabi Balint's FC Timişoara continued their push with a 3-0 victory over Politehnica Iaşi. Led by the brilliant work the Armenian international Arman Karamyan (Արման Քարամյան), Timişoara took the led at the eleventh minute as he accepted a long diagonal cross on the right and deftly out-maneuvered Iaşi defender Andrej Pečnik before sending the ball to the opposite corner past Iaşi keeper Răzvan Pleşca. Karamyan created a perfect opportunity for the second goal at the thirtieth minute as he crossed to Balázs Borbély in the box but the Slovak capped midfielders volley was easily dealt with by the Iaşi keeper. Timişoara extended its lead eight minutes into the new half via a one-man effort by Gheorghe Bucur who ran under a long ball down the left flank before turning back in front of the goal to score from eight metres. The day was not done as with six minutes left Iaşi keeper Răzvan Pleşca could only partially stop Lukáš Magera's shot from inside the box with the rebound coming to Karamyan's Armenian teammate Artiom Karamyan (Արտավազդ Քարամյան), who turned the ball in from four metres out.

Both clubs return to action on Saturday as Politehnica Iaşi welcomes Unirea Urziceni and FC Timişoara continues their race to catch Dinamo against Gloria Bistriţa.