Romania’s Football Cup

Romanias Football Cup has reached its round of 32 finals, whose matches have been scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday this week.

Ștefan Baciu, 24.09.2013, 13:12

Besides 18 first-leaguers, the event has also brought together, 8 second leaguers, three elevens from the third league, two elevens from the fourth league as well as Ripensia Timisoara, from the fifth league, which is bearing the name of a team that was famous in Romania in the inter-war period.

In fact, Ripensia walked away with the first Romania’s Cup by beating the first-league Universitatea Cluj in the finals. It’s a coincidence that the two sides have again been pitted against each other in this stage of the prestigious Romanian football tournament. On Tuesday, FC Vaslui, an ambitious first-leaguer from Eastern Romania takes on CSM Resita, from the second league, while Chindia Targoviste, also from the second league is up against Sageata Navodari, a team from the Romanian Black Sea coast. Corona Brasov takes on Sports Club Bacau, a second-leaguer based in Eastern Romania, while FCM Dorohoi, from the third league, will be squaring up against Viitorul Constanta. FC Bihor is due to take on Poli Timisoara in a regional derby. Tuesday’s last game will be opposing Dinamo Bucharest, holder of 13 Romania’s cups, and Sanatatea Cluj, a football side from the third Romanian football league.

On Wednesday, Gloria Buzau, from the second football league, will be facing FC Botosani, from northern Romania, which is considered this season’s revelation, while Petrolistul Boldesti, from the fourth league will be playing against Gaz Metan Medias. Romania’s representative in the Europa League, Pandurii Tg. Jiu will be playing against Farul Constanta. Wednesday will also see the game between two football sides, which started off on the wrong foot this season and are now at the bottom of the first football standings, FC Brasov and CFR Cluj respectively. Universitatea Craiova, from the second league will be facing Petrolul Ploiesti, holder of the previous edition of Romania’s football cup.

Romania’s Football Cup is due to end on Thursday with the game opposing Otelul Galati to Concordia Chiajna. Astra Giurgiu, from southern Romania, will be playing against second leaguer ACS Berceni. Rapid Bucharest, which is boasting 13 trophies in this competition, but is currently playing in the second football league, will be up against Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. Romania’s champions, Steaua Bucharest, with a record number of trophies won in this competition — 21, will apparently have an easy task against Avantul Barsana from the fourth league.

In the event of a draw, the fate of the round of 32 matches will be decided in the injury time or at the penalty shootouts.