In a high-scoring friendly encounter at ASPOL on 23 October 2024, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti faced Milanneto Bucure?ti, ultimately succumbing to a 6-3 defeat. The match kicked off at 9:00 pm, showcasing an entertaining display of attacking football from both 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. Alexandru Cristian Ursu took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Mihai Grigore and Dorin Catutoiu as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Juan Ramon and Alexandru Popescu forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Darius Soreata and Farzad Gharahdaghi operated on the right and left flanks, while Andres Rodriguez Fabian and Oussama Eddahbi provided central support, with Filip Marchis leading the line as the lone striker. The substitutes for the match included Mihai Bancu, Christian Müler, Juan Diego, Bishoy Khalil, FRIAA Dhia, Dan Del Zappo, Leo Tudor, Ene Stefan, and Nicolás Grandón.
The match began with an early foul by Marcus Da Costa Mitel, which set the tone for a competitive fixture. Darius Soreata followed suit shortly after, committing a holding foul that showcased the intensity of the game. A.S. Cetate Bucuresti's first real chance came in the 8th minute when Dorin Catutoiu's effort was saved, indicating their attacking intent. However, Mihai Grigore found himself offside in the 16th minute due to a mistimed run, denying another opportunity.
As the first half progressed, Darius Soreata made a misplaced pass in the 19th minute, leading to a crucial moment where Alexandru Cristian Ursu had to dive at the feet of an opponent to avert danger. Filip Marchis then attempted a shot in the 22nd minute, but it went wide, reflecting the team's struggles to find the target. Mistakes continued to plague A.S. Cetate Bucuresti, with Mihai Grigore and Andres Rodriguez Fabian both guilty of misplaced passes shortly after.
In the 31st minute, a tactical substitution saw Mihai Bancu replace Marcus Da Costa Mitel, aiming to inject fresh energy into the midfield. Darius Soreata redeemed himself moments later with a slide rule pass that created a chance, although Filip Marchis's subsequent attempt was saved. Christian Müler entered the fray for Alexandru Popescu in the 35th minute, further altering the dynamics on the pitch. Alexandru Cristian Ursu showcased his goalkeeping skills again in the 38th minute with a solid catch, but A.S. Cetate Bucuresti's woes continued as Mihai Bancu's effort went wide just before half-time.
The second half commenced with Oussama Eddahbi's attempt going wide, but the match quickly turned in favour of Milanneto Bucure?ti, who scored shortly after the restart in the 48th minute. A.S. Cetate Bucuresti responded positively, with FRIAA Dhia scoring in the 58th minute, assisted by Dorin Catutoiu, bringing the score to 5-2. However, Milanneto struck again with a long-range effort in the 65th minute, extending their lead.
A pivotal moment arrived in the 72nd minute when Dan Del Zappo conceded a penalty for holding, which Milanneto converted to make it 6-2. A.S. Cetate Bucuresti fought back immediately, with Mihai Bancu scoring in the same minute, assisted by Oussama Eddahbi, narrowing the gap to 6-3. Despite their efforts, Milanneto added another goal in the 78th minute, and again in the 80th, further solidifying their dominance.
As the match drew to a close, FRIAA Dhia managed to score his second goal in the 84th minute, with Mihai Bancu providing the assist, but it was too little too late. Milanneto rounded off their impressive performance with another goal in the 87th minute, sealing a comprehensive victory. A.S. Cetate Bucuresti will need to regroup and reflect on their defensive frailties as they prepare for future challenges.
