In a gripping league encounter at The Sports Complex Dumitru Ganea on 16 March 2025, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti faced off against ACS Team my School, ultimately succumbing to a 2-0 defeat. The match, which kicked off at 3:00 pm, saw the home side struggle to find their rhythm, particularly in the closing stages of the game.
A.S. Cetate Bucuresti lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Darius Bandehzadegan took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Ene Stefan on the right, Christian MĂĽler and Dan Del Zoppo in central defence, and Leo Tudor on the left. The midfield duo of Andres Rodriguez Fabian and Mihai Bancu was tasked with controlling the centre of the park, while Cristian Savino and Claudiu Prodan operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Farzad Gharahdaghi played centrally behind lone striker Mahdi Reihanian, who was expected to lead the line and convert any chances that came his way. The substitutes available included Marcus Da Costa Mitel, Vasco Barreto, and Juan Ramon.
The match began with an early foul from Leo Tudor, who was penalised for a push just four minutes in, setting a physical tone for the encounter. A.S. Cetate Bucuresti soon attempted to respond, with Andres Rodriguez Fabian taking a shot in the sixth minute that went wide of the target. However, the home side's defensive frailties were exposed when Dan Del Zoppo committed a late tackle in the eighth minute, earning a free kick for the opponents.
Darius Bandehzadegan was called into action shortly after, making a full-stretch save in the ninth minute to deny a goal-scoring opportunity. Despite their efforts, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti struggled to find their shooting boots, with Mihai Bancu also firing wide in the 14th minute. The match took a turn for the worse for the home side when Andres Rodriguez Fabian received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 19th minute, further complicating their midfield dynamics.
As the first half progressed, Mahdi Reihanian had a chance to break the deadlock in the 29th minute, but his effort was saved, leaving the scoreline unchanged. Just before half-time, Christian MĂĽler made a crucial block in the 43rd minute, preventing a clear chance for the opponents and ensuring the score remained level at the break.
The second half saw A.S. Cetate Bucuresti make their first substitution in the 56th minute, with Marcus Da Costa Mitel replacing the injured Andres Rodriguez Fabian. The introduction of Da Costa Mitel aimed to bolster the midfield, but the home side continued to struggle for cohesion. In the 63rd minute, Vasco Barreto came on for Claudiu Prodan, as A.S. Cetate Bucuresti sought fresh legs to invigorate their attack.
However, the match took another turn in the 70th minute when Juan Ramon replaced Ene Stefan, only for Barreto to receive a yellow card moments later, compounding the frustrations for the home side. As the match entered its final stages, A.S. Cetate Bucuresti found themselves on the back foot, and their resistance crumbled when ACS Team my School scored in the 88th minute, taking the lead against the run of play.
In a cruel twist of fate, the visitors added a second goal in stoppage time, sealing a 2-0 victory and leaving A.S. Cetate Bucuresti to reflect on a match that slipped away in the dying moments. The home side will need to regroup and reassess their strategies as they look to bounce back in their next fixture.
