Romanian football team Astra Giurgiu on Thursday obtained a historic performance
With Marius Sumudica at the helm, Astra has got through to the Europa League's round of 32, in an absolute first in the history of the club based in Giurgiu, southern Romania. Thursday night Astra held AS Roma to a goalless draw, in the last fixture of the League's Group E. Astra was the runner-up team in its group, and its success was partly due to the fact that Viktoria Plzen outclassed Austria Vienna, 3-2.
Astra is only the third Romanian team outside Bucharest that has got through to the European Spring since 1989, after Unirea Urziceni and CFR Cluj. Astra Giurgiu for the first time ever in the history of the club is this year's champion. It appears that Astra has managed to overcome a crisis triggered by serious financial problems, and had a below-par domestic season. Europa League's round of 32 draw takes place on Monday.
Also on Thursday, Romania's vice-champion team Steaua Bucharest wasted the opportunity to qualify for Europa League's round of 32, as they came 4th in Group L. Initially ranking as favorites to qualify, Steaua succeeded only one win in its group fixtures. Steaua conceded defeat to Villareal as well as to Turkish opponents Osmanlispor, and only managed to draw in the tie against Swiss second leaguer FC Zurich.
Games counting towards the 20th round of domestic League One's football championship are scheduled from Friday and all through to Monday. Two fixtures are to be played on Friday, as Poli Timisoara are pitted against FC Voluntari, while CFR Craiova take on CFR Cluj.
On Saturday, in southern Romania's Drobeta Turnu Severin, Pandurii Targu Jiu will be facing Gaz Metan Medias. In Botosani, northeastern Romania, local side Football Club take on CSM Poli Iasi. In the last fixture on Saturday, Dinamo play a home game against western Romanian side ASA Targu Mures. The European derby of the domestic championship is scheduled on Sunday as Astra Giurgiu are pitted against Steaua Bucharest on home turf.
The round's last game is scheduled in Chiajna on Monday, as local side Concordia take on Viitorul Constanta. Steaua are at the top of the table with 37 points, while Viitorul Constanta are the runner-up team, with 36 points.
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