The Romanian Football Championship in its final stage
The 2014-2015 season of the domestic championships is drawing to a close.
Florin Orban, 26.05.2015, 13:30
Fixtures counting towards the last round of domestic League Ones championship are scheduled from Wednesday all through to Sunday. So the fight for the top positions in the rankings as well the fight to avoid relegation is to be decided in the days to come.
On Wednesday, four games are scheduled, which are crucial for the final layout of the lower part of the rankings. Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt, Otelul from Galati, Universitatea Cluj and Rapid Bucharest cannot avoid relegation to the second tier of the championship. FC Brasov, Concordia Chiajna and Gaz Metan Medias are fighting for the 12th position, actually the first one above the relegation line. With three points less than Chiajna and Medias, FC Brasov stand only theoretical chances to get hold of the 12th position and entirely depend on the results of the other games in the same part of the rankings.
On Wednesday, Brasovs home game against Gaz Metan Medias is a must-win one, while Concordia Chiajna will have to lose to Petrolul Ploiesti at home in order for Brasov to remain in the first league. Gaz Metan are likely to escape relegation if they snatch a win against FC Brasov, and that even if Chiajna wins the game against Petrolul, but by no more than a goal. Concordia could retain its League One position if Petrolul won and Gaz Metan failed to win the game against FC Brasov.
Also on Wednesday, Rapid Bucharest are pitted against Pandurii Targu Jiu, while Universitatea Cluj will be taking on Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. Both games carry no stake whatsoever as regards relegation or grabbing a place in the European competitions.
The crucial match for the champion title is to be played in Iasi on Thursday, as Steaua Bucharest will go against local side CSMS Iasi. On the same day and on home soil, ASA Targu Mures are pitted against Otelul from Galati. If ASA wins the game against Otelul and Steaua are defeated in Iasi, ASA are highly likely to walk away with the champion title, which is an absolute first for domestic League Ones championship.
On Friday, FC Botosani will be playing Viitorul from Constanta on home ground, while Astra Giurgiu will be traveling to Bucharest to prove their mettle against Dinamo. Should they win, Astra are entitled to a final 4th position in the rankings, a position that can take them to Europa League preliminaries.
The rounds last game is scheduled on Saturday, as CSU Craiova are pitted against CFR Cluj. The latter team has already secured the third position in the rankings, while Craiova luckily escaped relegation, so the game will only count for the record, and for the show.
