The Corvinul Hunedoara vs. Otelul Galati match was a true testament to Corvinul Hunedoara’s fighting spirit. In the early stages of the Cup, the victories over Rapid Bucharest, FCSB, and Universitatea Craiova made them believe they could win the Otelul Galati—and they did!
- Corvinul Hunedoara defeated Oțelul Galați after a dramatic penalty shootout, scoring 3-2.
- Oțelul Galați took the lead twice through the fantastic Anes Rušević (’27 and ’58).
- Corvinul equalized Oțelul Galați twice to take the match to extra time (2-2): Marius Cătălin Coman (’39) and Antoniu Ştefăniţă Manolache (’74).
Corvinul Hunedoara has not experienced such a performance since the 1980s.
The winner of the Romanian Cup final, Corvinul Hunedoara vs. Oțelul Galați, opened the possibility of access from a second league to the UEFA EUROPA League.
A Short Brief Of Clubs History
Both teams are pillars of two cities where the steel industry still exists, to a certain extent, today: Hunedoara and Galați. But the glory seems long gone from both the industry and the sport. In football, however, Hunedoara has not had its last word.
Corvinul Hunedoara, once a force in the 1980s under the leadership of the legendary Mircea Lucescu, has endured a difficult period.
The team coached by Florin Maxim fought for years for promotion but was prevented from reaching the first league. It dropped to the IV League and gradually returned, reaching the II League after the 2022-2023 season.
The club has undergone numerous transformations, including changing its name to CS Corvinul Hunedoara and being saved from extinction by the support of local authorities. For this reason, the team does not have the right to be promoted to the I League.
Oțelul Galați, on the other hand, has not reached the performances of its heyday (1999-2012).
Then, under the command of the current coach, Dorinel Munteanu, Oțelul won the championship and qualified for the UEFA Champions League groups, where it met high-caliber opponents such as Manchester United, FC Basel, and Benfica.
However, the club’s lack of financial resources led to drifting. It reached the IV League before gradually returning to elite football.
Summary of Corvinul Hunedoara vs Oţelul Galaţi match
Florin Maxim’s team controlled the first half of the match, and in the second half, they fought hard despite the exhausting physical effort.
Corvinul had difficulties in front of the opponents’ game, which was marked by numerous simulations and contested referee decisions. It remains uncertain whether the first goal Anes Rušević (’27) scored from a free kick close to the box was correctly awarded.
However, the “Corvinul” came back in the last minutes of the first half through the success of Antoniu Manolache. The second half was more balanced.
Oţelul retook the advantage through a penalty converted by Anes Rušević, but Corvinul equalized after only 17 minutes through a precise shot by Manolache.
After 90 minutes, the score was 2-2, and the two extra periods did not change anything. The players were fatigued and cramped, so it came down to a penalty shootout.
- 1st penalty shot: Oţelul Galaţi – Juri Cisotti scores (penalty score 0-1)
- 2nd penalty shot: Corvinul Hunedoara – Marius Coman misses (penalty score 0-1)
- 3rd penalty shot: Oţelul Galaţi – Pablo Gaitan misses (penalty score: 0-1)
- 4th penalty shot: Corvinul Hunedoara – Antoniu Manolache scores (penalty score: 1-1)
- 5th penalty shot: Oţelul Galaţi: João Lameira misses (penalty score: 1-1)
- 6th penalty shot: Corvinul Hunedoara Antionio Bradu scores (penalty score: 2-1)
- 7th penalty shot: Oţelul Galaţi – Costin Ghiocel misses (penalty score: 2-1)
- 8th penalty shot: Corvinul Hunedoara- Pîrvulescu misses (penalty score: 2-1)
- 9th penalty shot: Oţelul Galaţi – Miguel Silva scores (penalty score: 2-2)
- 10th penalty shot: Corvinul Hunedoara – Andrei Hergheligiu scores (final penalty score: 3-2)
Andrei Hergheligiu scored the decisive goal with a perfectly placed shot near the bar.
Corvinul Hunedoara is now on the verge of a historic achievement: qualifying for European competitions.
Although Oțelul Galați is 11th in Liga I and fighting to avoid relegation, the team has shown an admirable fighting spirit in this competition.
Victory decided by fate?
Two bizarre moments marked this match. The first was coach Dorinel Munteanu’s hesitation, which generated speculation when he left the technical bench just before his team’s penalty kick.
The second moment was touching Florin Maxim’s statement win. He suggested that he felt a positive energy before the match, which gave him confidence that his team could win.
Corvinul Hunedoara’s victory is not only a sporting success but a symbol of perseverance and the rebirth of a historic club.
This performance will remain in the memory of Romanian football supporters and lovers, demonstrating that anything is possible in this unpredictable sport.
Curiosities
Did you know that Ioan Andone, now on the club's staff, was a legendary Corvinul Hunedoara team veteran and had a tense moment with Mircea Rednic in 1989?
The two people were caught gesticulating and swearing in the box where Nicu Ceaușescu, the son of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, was.
At the time, Corvinul Hunedoara was crushed by Steaua București (1-2), the team that represented the military structures and was considered the “system team.”
Tonight’s performance may eclipse that historic match. Corvinul Hunedoara, perceived as the “people’s” team, managed to win despite the obstacles and make their way to Europe.
Not everyone wanted this team to reach UEFA, but the faith of the few won. Corvinul Hunedoara is celebrating a symbolic victory over all the injustices suffered.
Another controversy loomed over the match: center-back Marcel Bîrsan was delegated at the last minute after retired FIFA referee Vladimir Urzică attended the game without being officially involved.
Could it be a coincidence or a subtle attempt at influence? Speculation remains, but the result is inevitable – Corvinul Hunedoara defied all predictions, and fate wrote a different ending.
Corvinul Hunedoara supporters box during the Corvinul Hunedoara vs. Oţelul Galaţi match on Romanian Cup Final on the Sibiu Municipal Stadium, along with the banner translated “The raven with the ring brings the cup to the castle“
Video gallery
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