exactly what the Tricolorii needed

Hope abound as Victor Piţurcă’s Tricolori squad overcame Georgia 2-1 at Dinamo Stadium in Bucureşti. The visitors took the lead at the ten minute with Otar Martsvaladze poaching upon a mix-up between Mirel Rădoi (Steaua Bucureşti) and Bogdan Lobonţ (Dinamo Bucureşti) and although Romania was very aggressive they could not find the leveler. At the break Victor Piţurcă made brilliant statement that all Romanian supporters must commend him for, he brought in twenty-one year-old ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) and twenty-two year-old Adrian Ropotan (Dinamo Bucureşti) in a investment for the future. Down by one, Romania found the equalizer two minutes past the hour mark as Răzvan Cociş (Lokomotiv Moscow) crossed for Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart) who headed the ball to the back of the net. Hungry for the victory in-front of faithful supporters, Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucureşti) scored from five meters out to give the Tricolorii the 2-1 advantage with twenty minutes remaining. For the balance of the match, Romania had full control and held off Georgia for the victory.

România: Lobonţ (’46 Costel Pantilimon) – Ogăraru (’25 Panin), Tamaş (’46 Tanase), Rădoi, Raţ – Lazăr, Tameş – Nicoliţă (’60 G.Bucur), Răzvan Cociş (’46 Adrian Ropotan), Fl. Costea – Marica.

Georgia: Lomaia – Gvinianidze, Kvahadze, Hizanişvili, Salukvadze – Razmadze, Marebaşvili, Kobiaşvili, Odikadze – Martsvaladze, Goţiridze.