Corvinul Hunedoara defeated the Hungarian team Paks FC with a score of 4-0 (2-0), on Thursday evening, at Paksi FC Stadium, in the first leg of the first preliminary round of the Europa League.
Florin Maxim, coach Corvinul Hunedoara. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
Corvinul, upon returning to the European Cups after 42 years, defeated the Hungarian vice-champion categorically and without right of appeal, with the goals scored by Sergiu Buş (9) and Marius Lupu (45+2, 86, 90+3).
The winner of the Romanian Cup controlled the game from one end to the other, in front of a team that did not rise to the level of last season’s performance (second place in the championship and winning the Hungarian Cup).
The team coached by Florin Maxim opened the scoring in the 9th minute, through Sergiu Buş, with a shot from 13 meters, following a corner. Hunedoren had other opportunities in front of a team lacking in energy and reaction. Iacob (11) shot at the short corner, but Szappanos defended. Lupu (10) was engaged on the edge of the small box by Bradu, but could not take the ball.
The winner of the Romanian Cup had a supernumerary counterattack (23), 5-2, but the hosts managed to block it. Marius Lupu missed alone with the goalkeeper (29), but he managed to score at the end of the first half (45+2), when he deflected in front of the goalkeeper at Pîrvulescu’s cross.
Paks had only one notable opportunity in the first half, but Konyves’ (39) shot from the corner went wide of the goal.
Paks – Corvinul, spectacular even after the break
Corvinul started the second half strongly, and Buş’s shot from the corner was rejected by the goalkeeper (46). A minute later, Pîrvulescu lobbed the ball from the edge of the box, but it fell into the goal net.
Toth stood out from the hosts, but he restarted inaccurately with his head (63), and then Lica blocked his shot (80).
Paks FC remained in ten, after Balint Szabo (78) received the red card for a harsh intervention at Hrezdac, which had to be changed. Initially, the Hungarian had received a yellow card, but the referee was notified by VAR and eliminated Szabo.
Corvinul scored the third goal with a chance, after an outnumbered counterattack led by Roger: the Brazilian crossed imprecisely in front of the goal, Vecsei rejected wrongly, and Lupu resumed in the goal (86).
The fourth goal of the second league team was scored by the same Lupu, with a shot from about 12 meters (90+3), after a ball rejected by the home defense.
Paks had a notable opportunity through Mezei (88), from a free kick, but Lefter saved the cross.
In the 90th+5th minute, Manolache got complicated in defense and fouled Bode, and the referee awarded a penalty. The video referee saved Corvinul and moved the free kick to the edge of the box.
The second leg will take place on July 18, in Sibiu.
If it passes Paks, Corvinul Hunedoara will play in the second preliminary round of the Europa League with the Croatian team HNK Rijeka.
Paks – Corvinul Hunedoara 0-4 (0-2)
They scored: Sergiu Bus (9), Marius Lupu (45+2, 86, 90+3).
Paks, Paks FC Stadium
Europa League – first preliminary round (first leg)
The teams evolved:
Paks: 1. Peter Szappanos – 30. Janos Szabo (captain), 2. Akos Kinyik, 24. Bence Lenzser – 11. Attila Osvath, 22. Jozsef Windecker (5. Balint Vecsei, 69), 8. Balazs Balogh (10. Zsolt Haraszti , 46), 21. Kristof Papp, 14. Erik Silye (29. Barna Toth, 46; 26. Szabolcs Mezei, 81) – 27. Balint Szabo, 15. Norbert Konyves (13. Daniel Bode, 62). Trainer: Gyorgy Bognar.
Unused reserves: 25. Barnabas Simon – 7. Alen Skribek, 12. Gabor Vas, 17. Bence Mate Kocsis, 20. Krisztian Kovacs, 23. Bence Otvos, 77. Zsolt Gevay.
Corvinus: 12. Ştefan Lefter – 13. Flavius Iacob, 6. Viorel Ştefan Lică, 30. Antonio Manolache, 10. Alexandru Neacşa (captain) – 97. Denis Lucian Hrezdac (3. Ionuţ Pop, 78) – 7. Marius Lupu, 11. Roger, 8. Antonio Bradu, 19. Nicolae Pîrvulescu (31. Desley Ubbink, 85) – 9. Sergiu Bus. Trainer: Florin Sandu Maxim.
Unused reserves: 1. Cristian Blaga – 14. Andrei Hergheligiu, 15. Alexandru-Ioan Predică, 17. Darius Alexandru Grigore, 18. Timotei Mitran, 20. Alexandru Gîrbită, 26. Ibuchi Goodnews Chukwu, 33. Marius Chindriş, 98. Mihai Velisar.
Referee: Mohammad Usman Aslam; assistant referees: Tom Harald Groenevik, Joergen Roenning Valstadsve; fourth official: Marius Hansen Groetta (all from Norway)
Video Referee: Jakob Kehlet; video assistant referee: Sandi Putros (both from Denmark)
UEFA Observer: Alon Yefet (Israel); UEFA delegate: Miroslaw Ryszka (Poland)
Yellow cards: Kinyik (32), Maxim (52), Vecsei (72), Neacsa (86), Bradu (89).
Red card: B. Szabo (78).
