In a fiercely contested league encounter at the BIRUINTA on 27 October 2024, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti succumbed to a narrow defeat against ACS PRO TEAM, finishing the match with a scoreline of 1-2. The match kicked off at 2:00 PM, setting the stage for an intense battle between the two sides.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, designed to bolster their midfield presence while allowing for quick transitions to attack. Darius Bandehzadegan took his position in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Ene Stefan and Leo Tudor as right and left defenders respectively, with Bishoy Khalil and Dan Del Zappo occupying the central defensive roles. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring Marchidan Andrei on the right, Mihai Bancu on the left, and a trio of central midfielders: Claudiu Prodan, Vasco Barreto, and Farzad Gharahdaghi. Up front, FRIAA Dhia was tasked with leading the line as the lone striker.
The substitutes for A.S. Cetate Bucuresti included Nicolás Grandón, Dorin Catutoiu, Oussama Eddahbi, Andres Rodriguez Fabian, Marcus Da Costa Mitel, and Christian Müler, providing the coach with tactical options as the match progressed.
The match began with an early foul from Dan Del Zappo, who was penalised for a late tackle just four minutes in. This set the tone for a physical encounter, and moments later, ACS PRO TEAM capitalised on the momentum, scoring the opening goal in the fifth minute from close range, leaving A.S. Cetate Bucuresti trailing early on.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti responded with intent, as Vasco Barreto attempted to level the score in the 11th minute, but his effort went wide. The home side continued to press, and Mihai Bancu was cautioned for a handball in the 18th minute, although no penalty was awarded. Bishoy Khalil also came close to scoring in the 20th minute, but his shot went wide of the target.
The breakthrough for A.S. Cetate Bucuresti came in the 24th minute when FRIAA Dhia found the net, assisted by Farzad Gharahdaghi, bringing the score to 1-1 and igniting hopes of a comeback. However, the joy was short-lived as ACS PRO TEAM struck again in the 33rd minute, this time benefiting from an own goal, restoring their lead to 2-1.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti continued to search for an equaliser, with Claudiu Prodan's attempt in the 30th minute sailing high, and Vasco Barreto's shot in the 42nd minute being saved by the opposition goalkeeper. The first half concluded with the score at 2-1 in favour of ACS PRO TEAM.
As the second half commenced, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti made two immediate substitutions, bringing on Dorin Catutoiu for Leo Tudor and Nicolás Grandón for Ene Stefan, aiming to inject fresh energy into their performance. Just after the restart, Vasco Barreto had another attempt, but the home side remained unable to find the back of the net.
The match took a more heated turn in the 53rd minute when Farzad Gharahdaghi received a yellow card for a bad tackle, followed by FRIAA Dhia being cautioned for offensive language in the 60th minute. Despite the setbacks, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti pressed on, with Farzad Gharahdaghi's shot saved in the 62nd minute.
Further substitutions were made in the 65th and 66th minutes, with Oussama Eddahbi replacing Mihai Bancu and Andres Rodriguez Fabian coming on for Farzad Gharahdaghi. However, the match continued to be a physical affair, with Andres Rodriguez Fabian committing a foul in the 72nd minute, though no penalty was awarded.
In the 75th minute, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti was forced to make another change due to injury, with Marcus Da Costa Mitel replacing Andres Rodriguez Fabian, while Christian Müler came on for Vasco Barreto. As the match drew to a close, FRIAA Dhia was penalised for a charge in the 82nd minute, but A.S. Cetate Bucuresti could not find the equaliser they desperately sought.
Despite a valiant effort, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti fell short, ending the match with a disappointing 1-2 defeat against ACS PRO TEAM. The result leaves them with much to ponder as they look to regroup and refocus for their upcoming fixtures.
