Rapid Bucharest was defeated by Farul Constanţa with a score of 2-1 (1-0), on Friday evening, in Giulesti, in a match from the first stage of the play-off phase of the Superleague football.
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After beating FCSB leader 4-0, Rapid succumbed to the champions, who prevailed with Louis Munteanu's double (23, 55). The goal of honor for the team coached by Cristiano Bergodi was scored by Albion Rrahmani (85 – penalty). This failure comes at the end of a few troubled days for the club from Giulesti, with the president Daniel Niculae investigated in a file regarding the illegal use of pyrotechnic materials in the stadiums and with the leader of the gallery under preventive arrest.
Rapid had the first opportunity, through Kosovar Florent Hasani (7), who restarted from 11 meters, but goalkeeper Alexandru Buzbuchi rejected the crossbar.
Farul opened the scoring through Munteanu (23), who volleyed after Constantin Grameni's cross. The guests could double their advantage, but Ionuţ Vînă (32) missed alone with goalkeeper Marian Aioani, on a counterattack 3-1. Rapid had another good opportunity (32), through the same Hasani, but Diogo Queiros blocked.
The team coached by Gheorghe Hagi broke away in min. 55, when Munteanu scored from Ionuţ Cojocaru's exceptional pass.
Rapid attacked with all resources, but was not inspired. Claudiu Petrila's shot (58), from 18 meters, was rejected by Buzbuchi, Rrahmani (60) resumed over the goal from 4 meters, and David Kiki (75) blocked Petrila's shot from the edge of the box.
Farul had a great opportunity to score in the min. 78, but Vîna's shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar. In min. 82, Rivaldinho hit Paul Iacob in the box, and the hosts received a penalty, converted by Rrahmani (85).
Rapid's last opportunity to equalize was Burmaz's restart (88), from the box, caught by Buzbuchi.
The Giulesti Stadium had seven sectors closed for this match (106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113 and 123), sanction dictated by the Disciplinary Commission of the FRF following the incidents in the match with FCSB.
In the regular season, Rapid did not lose against Farul, winning 3-1 at home and drawing at Ovidiu (0-0). Farul was coming after four stages without victory, three draws and one failure.
FC Rapid Bucharest – FC Farul Constanta 1-2 (0-1), Giuleşti Superbet Arena – Bucharest They scored: Albion Rrahmani (85 – penalty), respectively Louis Munteanu (23, 55). Red card: Răzvan Oaidă (Rapid, 67).
Referee: George Cătălin Găman (Craiova); assistant referees: Ciprian Florin Danşa (Satu Mare), Imre-Laszlo Bucsi (Sfântu Gheorghe); fourth official: Horia Gabriel Mladinovici (Bucharest) Video referee: Szabolcs Kovacs (Carei); video assistant referee: Iuliana Elena Demetrescu (Râmnicu Vâlcea)
Observers: Liviu Ciubotariu (Galaţi) – CCA, Marcel Vasile (Bucharest) – LPF
