In a thrilling friendly encounter at ASPOL on 30 October 2024, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti faced off against International Bucure?ti, ultimately succumbing to a 4-2 defeat. The match kicked off at 9:00 PM, showcasing an intense battle between the two sides.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Alexandru Cristian Ursu took his place in goal, shielded by a trio of defenders: Christian Müler on the right, Juan Ramon centrally, and Mihai Grigore on the left. The midfield was packed with five players, featuring Darius Soreata on the right, Farzad Gharahdaghi and Vasco Barreto in central roles, and Leo Tudor on the left. Up front, Filip Marchis and FRIAA Dhia were tasked with leading the line as forwards, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from their opponents.
The substitutes for A.S. Cetate Bucuresti included Bishoy Khalil, Dan Del Zappo, Juan Diego, Marcus Da Costa Mitel, and Georgian Valentin, who were poised to make an impact as the match progressed.
The match began with an early scare for A.S. Cetate Bucuresti as Alexandru Cristian Ursu had to punch the ball clear within the first two minutes, showcasing his alertness. However, just two minutes later, International Bucure?ti struck first, scoring a header from close range to take a 1-0 lead. The visitors quickly doubled their advantage in the sixth minute with a well-executed set piece, finding the back of the net with a right-footed shot.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti responded positively, and in the eighth minute, Leo Tudor pulled one back for his side. Assisted by FRIAA Dhia with a short pass, Tudor found the net with a precise left-footed shot from a set piece, igniting hopes of a comeback.
Despite the momentum shift, International Bucure?ti regained control, scoring their third goal in the 19th minute from another set piece, this time with a right-footed effort that left the A.S. Cetate defence scrambling. The match continued with A.S. Cetate struggling to find their rhythm, and in the 11th minute, Vasco Barreto was penalised for obstruction, though no penalty was awarded.
As the first half progressed, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti made a tactical substitution in the 35th minute, bringing on Bishoy Khalil for Vasco Barreto, aiming to bolster their midfield presence. The first half concluded with the score at 3-1 in favour of International Bucure?ti.
The second half saw A.S. Cetate Bucuresti make further changes, with Dan Del Zappo replacing Juan Ramon just after the restart. In the 52nd minute, Juan Diego came on for Leo Tudor, as the home side sought fresh legs to mount a comeback.
The breakthrough for A.S. Cetate came in the 63rd minute when Christian Müler scored a stunning direct free-kick from outside the box, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 and reigniting the hopes of the home fans. However, the joy was short-lived as International Bucure?ti responded with their fourth goal in the 83rd minute, effectively sealing the match.
In a late twist, A.S. Cetate made another substitution, bringing on FRIAA Dhia for Dan Del Zappo due to injury, as they sought to regain some attacking impetus. Despite their efforts, the match ended with a final score of 4-2 in favour of International Bucure?ti, leaving A.S. Cetate Bucuresti with much to ponder as they look to improve in future fixtures.
