Petrolul Ploiești claimed the Romanian Cup trophy on Tuesday after a 3-2 victory over CSM Rezita in extra time. I. Tolea’s 109th-minute goal confirmed the result at the National Stadium.
By then, the game had already swung twice. Rezita took the lead through Lucho Vega in the 31st minute, capitalising on their recent momentum. They had won four of their previous five outings, including a 2-0 win over Ştefăneşti just three days prior, and played with that confidence. To be fair, Petrolul’s form had been patchy, having lost 4-0 to Universitatea Craiova on their last outing, yet they showed maturity in the second half.
The visitors responded quickly. D. Paraschiv equalised in the 44th minute, and S. Visic restored the lead just four minutes after the restart. The momentum shifted entirely as Rezita pushed for an equaliser. And here's the thing about finals: teams often open up when they need a goal, leaving space behind. Petrolul’s defence stayed organised, absorbing the pressure while waiting for a counter-attack opportunity.
CSM Rezita refused to surrender. C. Chira pulled one back in the 89th minute, drawing the home crowd into a roar. The scoreline suggested a penalty shootout was inevitable. Rezita had nothing to lose now and pressed high up the pitch, knowing they had nothing to do all evening if they could hold out until full time.
Fatigue set in for both sides. Petrolul’s goalkeeper was tested repeatedly, but the defence cleared every ball. Then came the decisive moment. I. Tolea struck in the 109th minute, catching Rezita sleeping on the break. It was a harsh blow for the hosts, who had fought so hard to stay in the contest.
The cup is now theirs. It was a game decided by those three or four moments Petrolul managed to seize. The final score of 3-2 reflects a night where Petrolul’s composure told in the dying stages.