[Vladinho]

Some rezult ?:D

[JimChelseaFC]

BUCURESTI DERBY: RAPID BUCURESTI VS STEAUA BUCURESTI

UEFA Cup Quarter Finals

The two best teams in Romania meet in the UEFA cup quarter finals. It's a shame to see that one of them must end their UEFA cup glory in the Quarter Finals, but it guarantees that at least one Romanian team will be in the Semi-Finals. The games will be close, both of them. It will be a true derby, and the world will be exposed to high quality football. Rapid is good on the road, and especially in Ghencea. And at home, it seems like Rapid is unbeatable, especially in the Uefa Cup. Tactically, Rapid have the upper hand, with genious manager Razvan Lucescu. Steaua are likely to play a very defensive game at home to avoid any loss or any goals. But the full attacking strength of Rapid may be too much for them to handle. Maldarasanu will be back, and with Daniel Niculae, Buga, and Badoi and Moldovan, they will have their hands full on defense.

CODE

Steaua captain Mirel Radoi felt similarly sorry that the two Romanian sides - who drew 0-0 in their only league meeting to date this season - would not be meeting in the final in Eindhoven on 10 May. "It's a pity that it will not end that way," he said. "I hope that the team which qualifies after these two matches gets to the final. And of course I hope that team will be Steaua."

CODE

However, Rapid coach Razvan Lucescu was not entirely delighted about the draw, which sees Romanian clubs paired together in Europe for the first time. "I would rather have played Steaua in the final and it's a pity that we will not both be able to qualify," he said. "But for Romanian football it's very good that we have been guaranteed a team in the semi-finals."

I predict a 1-0 Rapid victory in Giulesti and a 2-2 tie in Ghencea.

[Vladinho]

no on ghencea
...on lia manoliu

[Stuttgart]

ahhh what a match but.. I don't know who I should support there :P I think i hope on Rapid because we beat you in group stage :P

[JimChelseaFC]

no on ghencea
...on lia manoliu

Oh yeah.. that's right.. Are there two games? or just one?

ahhh what a match but.. I don't know who I should support there :P I think i hope on Rapid because we beat you in group stage :P

We threw the game away. :coffee:

[Jesper]

Bummer that one of the two Romanian clubs have to be knocked out. Would have been better for the coefficients if they were separate opponents.

[Rufer]

Bummer that one of the two Romanian clubs have to be knocked out. Would have been better for the coefficients if they were separate opponents.

Depends on who they would have to play.

This way Romania gets between 1.333 additional points (if both matchesend draw)
and 2 additional points at the FIFA ranking.

[JimChelseaFC]

RAPID-STEAUA
For history, for semi-finals, for Romania!

An UEFA poll was taken and the question was asked, "Who will win, Rapid or Steaua?" The public voted 58% steaua will win, 22% Rapid will win and 20% voted tie. However, I don't think the public took into account that this is a Rapid home game in the first leg, but they can have their oppinions.

Major blow for Steaua, their best striker, Victoras Iacob will be missing the game, as well as their excellant portuguese keeper and Gabriel Bostina. It is a big blow for Steaua, they will be weaker than usual.

This is boiling down to be the biggest series of games in Romanian club history. Rapid is said to be earning 500 thousand dollars from this home game from ticket sales and from television rights. Definately big financial gains. Steaua will be earning around 200 thousand dollars from the game.

The game is surrounded by superstitions. Rapid boss George Copos visited the team yesterday. He said "I always come see the team one day and one hour before a big game, it has been working, I hope it will continue to work!" The players of Rapid have also been in a routine, the day before a game they get together and play pool and talk, in order to relax and get good team communication. They say that focus is what got them this far in UEFA Cup.

This game should be exciting, nail biter. I will post the goals after the game and a match review!

This post has been edited by Horia: 29 March 2006 - 11:08 PM

[nico21horia]

Bucharest braced for big night!
Bucharest bragging rights are at stake along with a place in the last four of the UEFA Cup when the Romanian capital's two most popular clubs, AFC Rapid Bucuresti and FC Steaua Bucuresti, get their quarter-final under way on Thursday. Greater pedigree
Visitors Steaua are six points and two places above their First Division rivals and boast the greater pedigree in continental competition, having won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1986. However, Rapid can take confidence from a superlative UEFA Cup record this season at their Giulesti stadium - eight ties yielding as many victories, with 16 goals scored and none conceded. Steaua are also without a win at Rapid since 26 April 2003.

Grigore winner
Rapid defeated FC National 2000 Bucuresti 1-0 on Sunday, Nicolae Grigore scoring a spectacular 87th-minute header. Coach Razvan Lucescu said his players "we're a little bit tired" after that triumph, but would need little encouragement to rouse themselves for Steaua. Aside from long-term injury victims Marius Maldarasanu and Artavazd Karamyan, and the ineligible Daniel Pancu, Lucescu has a full squad to choose from.

'Concern'
Whether he does in the return at Steaua's temporary Lia Manoliu home next week is doubtful, as ten Rapid players are a booking away from suspension. Lucescu said: "Obviously it's a concern having so many players in danger of being suspended, but I hope they will be intelligent enough not to respond to any potential provocation. We're not afraid of Steaua and cannot wait to get started, although everyone should understand that this is only a football match, not a war."

Ticket machines
With the game being the hottest ticket in town, special machines that electronically read tickets have been installed in front of each turnstile to prevent supporters with forgeries entering the ground. Romanian president Traian Basescu also invited both teams to his palace to honour their achievements in reaching the quarter-finals, using it as an opportunity to warn that "any violence or racism will destroy everything built on the pitch".

This is the match of our livesSteaua coach Cosmin Olaroiu

'Weaknesses'
Steaua were also weekend winners, claiming a first victory at Lia Manoliu, 2-1 against third-placed FCU Politehnica Timisoara. Dorin Goian missed out with a thigh injury and is a doubt. Definitely absent are Victoras Iacob (shoulder) and Gabriel Bostina (suspended), although coach Cosmin Olaroiu remains confident. "Rapid are a good and well-organised side, but like all teams they have their weaknesses. We want to score at Rapid and I'm sure my players will show full commitment to ensure we do. This is the match of our lives."

[JimChelseaFC]

Yeah they beat Poli Timisoara... but we are better, especially at home.

Starting lineups:

CODE

Rapid Bucuresti

    * 1 Coman
    * 23 Marius Constantin
    * 24 Maftei
    * 6 Rada
    * 9 Badoi
    * 13 Dica
    * 25 Constantin Stancu
    * 5 Ionut Stancu
    * 21 Daniel Niculae
    * 99 Viorel Moldovan
    * 29 Buga

       Bench
    * 32 Minca
    * 7 Vasilache
    * 8 Negru
    * 14 Perja
    * 18 Grigore
    * 20 Burdujan
    * 28 Nicolae Constantin

Coach

     * Razvan Lucescu

Steaua

     * 13 Fernandes
    * 20 Ogararu
    * 3 Goian
    * 24 Ghionea
    * 18 Marin
    * 16 Nicolita
    * 6 Radoi
    * 22 Paraschiv
    * 10 Dica
    * 7 Oprita
    * 21 Cristea

       Bench
    * 12 Cernea
    * 5 Balan
    * 9 Simion
    * 14 Cristocea
    * 15 Nesu
    * 17 Baciu
    * 28 Lovin

Coach

     * Aurelian Cosmin Olaroiu

[nico21horia]

1-0 Steaua already.
NICOLITA after 5 mins

[JimChelseaFC]

Half-time. Score Rapid 0-1 Steaua. Steaua have been controlling the game so far, it is not looking good. Hopefully Razvan Lucescu can give his usual inspirational speech and rapid can net two goals.

[JimChelseaFC]

MOLDOVANNNNN GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

1- 1


RAPID retaliate right after half time, 4th minute in the second half. Have it steaua!

[Vladinho]

Bad reffree...why don't put Oprita goal?

This post has been edited by Vladinho: 30 March 2006 - 09:00 PM

[JT]

Bad reffree...why don't put Oprita goal?

Ask Horia

[JimChelseaFC]

The ball was clearly kicked with curve and went out of play before getting to the box. That's what happens when a right footed player kicks from the right side with curve. Wasn't a goal.

[Vladinho]

I don't want to ask anything
STEAUA QUALIFIED
U have something to say Horia....i hope no.......Steaua its better than Rapid :D

[JimChelseaFC]

Well no shame in not losing to Steaua. We had the opportunity to win that game when Buga barely missed, credits to Petre Marin. Then Emil Dica almost scored in the 89th minute. I think it was a great game, lots of suspense and Steaua's defense proved that they are as good as the hype.

In the end, we have our heads up. We did not lose. A 1-1 tie followed by 0-0 tie does not prove Steaua is a better team. They were missing one key player-victoras iacob. We didn't have Maldarasanu and Pancu cannot participate in UEFA Cup because he was cup tied. If they would have played in both legs, the outcome would have been different.

I'm proud of Rapid, and their amazing journey. I'm not mad we lost, we shouldn't even have made it this far. It's sad that Steaua and Rapid could not meet in the final, because out of all the teams left, both Rapid and Steaua could beat.

Rapid did not qualify, but Romania did. And that's what matters. I hope Steaua win the UEFA Cup.

No regrets, that's what Razvan Lucescu said, and we will be repeating this next UEFA Cup. Steaua will be in the Champions league, so there is no worry on this happening again.

But props to Steaua, they really contained our attack. We contained Nicolita and Oprita, and they didn't score. We took away their wing play.

Congratulations to Steaua, and it was the most amazing 2 series of games I have ever watched Rapid and Steaua play. They played European football, and not romanian league quality. There was sportsmanship, there were opportunities upon opportunities, and it was a great night for Romania and for Rapid and for Steaua.

I always said Steaua was a more experienced and a more dangerous team than Rapid. And they were.

But once again, we are 6 points behind Dinamo and Steaua in the league, and they play eachother this weekend so we will catch up some more. We are in the cup semi finals. We got to the UEFA cup quarter finals, and went out without losing. We knocked out Feyenoord, Hertha Berlin, Shakhtar, Rennes, PAOK, and Hamburg. No sadness or regrets here, Steaua won in a beautiful series of games, and I will be supporting them in the UEFA cup.

I hope they kill Boro.. they are a much better team and deserve to be in the finals where they will beat whoever it is. Hai Romania!

[Vladinho]

We don't have Iacob and Bostina too man .......
Carlos keep 25 minutes with broke finger.....
We are proud about your team but not good enoght...

[JimChelseaFC]

Not good enough? We played eachother 3 times this year

1) 0-0
2) 1-1
3) 0-0

If we are not good enough to win, then you aren't either. They are two very evenly matched teams, with different styles, and every quality that Rapid doesnt have steaua has and vice versa. You can't get cocky on me for moving on with a technicality. You did not win. You just advanced.