2018–19 FC Viitorul Constanța season

Viitorul Constanța
2018–19 season
ChairmanPavel Peniu
ManagerGheorghe Hagi
StadiumViitorul
Liga I3rd
Cupa RomânieiWinners
Europa League2nd qualifying round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ianis Hagi (10)

All:
Ianis Hagi (14)

The 2018–19 season was the 10th season of competitive football by Viitorul Constanța, and the 7th consecutive in the Liga I. Viitorul Constanța competed in the Liga I, Cupa României and Europa League. The club won their first Romanian Cup on 25 May 2019, defeating Astra Giurgiu in the final.

Season overview

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Background

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Previous season positions

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Competition Position
European Union UEFA Champions League Third qualifying round
European Union UEFA Europa League Play-off round
Romania Liga I 4th
Romania Cupa României Round of 16

Players

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Squad information

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First-team squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Romania ROU Árpád Tordai
2 DF Romania ROU Virgil Ghiță
3 MF Spain ESP Dani López
4 DF Netherlands NED Bas Kuipers
5 MF Romania ROU Sebastian Mladen
6 DF Netherlands NED Bradley de Nooijer
7 MF Romania ROU Alexandru Mățan
8 MF Romania ROU Carlo Casap
9 FW Brazil BRA Rivaldinho (on loan from Levski Sofia)
10 MF Romania ROU Ianis Hagi (Captain)
11 MF Romania ROU Ionuț Vînă
12 GK Romania ROU Valentin Cojocaru
13 FW Romania ROU Denis Drăguș
14 MF Romania ROU Roberto Mălăele
15 DF Romania ROU Bogdan Țîru (Vice-Captain)
16 MF Romania ROU Vlad Achim
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Romania ROU Andrei Ciobanu
18 FW Romania ROU George Ganea
20 MF Romania ROU Andrei Tîrcoveanu
21 MF Romania ROU Paul Iacob
24 MF Brazil BRA Eric
27 DF Romania ROU Radu Boboc
30 MF Romania ROU Andreias Calcan
31 GK Romania ROU Alexandru Buzbuchi
43 GK Romania ROU Paul Șerban
91 MF Romania ROU Alexi Pitu
93 MF Romania ROU Andrei Artean
96 MF France FRA Lyes Houri
98 DF Romania ROU Marius Leca
99 MF Romania ROU Tudor Băluță (on loan from Brighton)

Transfers

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In:

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Romania ROU Paul Iacob (loan return from Dunărea Călărași)
MF Romania ROU Florin Nicolescu (loan return from Afumați)
FW Romania ROU Alexandru Stoica (loan return from Dunărea Călărași)
DF Romania ROU Robert Băjan (from Pandurii Târgu Jiu)
DF Romania ROU Srdjan Luchin (from CFR Cluj)
MF Romania ROU Vlad Achim (from FCSB, previously on loan at Botoșani)
MF Romania ROU Andrei Artean (from ACS Poli Timișoara)
MF Romania ROU Eduard Florescu (from Mioveni)
MF France FRA Lyes Houri (from France Lens B)
MF Russia RUS Amir Natkho (from Russia Lokomotiv Moscow)
FW Romania ROU Robert Răducanu (from Concordia Chiajna, previously on loan)
FW Romania ROU Cătălin Țîră (from Energeticianul)
DF Romania ROU Constantin Dima (from FC Dinamo București)
MF Romania ROU Andrei Tîrcoveanu (from Dinamo București)
DF Netherlands NED Bas Kuipers (fromNetherlands Ado Den Haag)
MF Brazil BRA Eric Pereira (fromQatar Al-Markhiya SC)
FW Brazil BRA Rivaldinho (on loan from Bulgaria Levski Sofia)
MF Romania ROU Andreas Calcan (from Netherlands Almere City)
MF Romania ROU Tudor Băluță (on loan from England Brighton & Hove Albion, previously signed)
GK Romania ROU Árpád Tordai (loan return from Petrolul Ploiești)
FW Romania ROU George Ganea (from CFR Cluj)

Out:

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Moldova MDA Sebastian Agachi (on loan to Pucioasa)
GK Romania ROU Cosmin Dur-Bozoancă (on loan to Universitatea Cluj, previously on loan at ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
GK Romania ROU Ionuț Gurău (on loan to Gloria Buzău, previously on loan at Farul Constanța)
GK Romania ROU Rareș Micu (on loan to Medgidia)
GK Romania ROU Haralambie Mociu (on loan to Medgidia)
GK Romania ROU Rareș Murariu (on loan to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
GK Romania ROU Mihai Popa (to Farul Constanța)
GK Romania ROU Árpád Tordai (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești)
DF Romania ROU Paul Acasandrei (on loan to Axiopolis Cernavodă)
DF Romania ROU Mădălin Androne (on loan to Gloria Buzău, previously on loan at Farul Constanța)
DF Romania ROU Tiberiu Căpușă (on loan to Universitatea Cluj)
DF Romania ROU Cristian Ganea (to Spain Athletic Bilbao)
DF Romania ROU Darius Grosu (on loan to Afumați)
DF Romania ROU Robert Hodorogea (on loan to Voluntari)
DF Romania ROU Răzvan Horj (to Hungary Újpest, previously on loan at Voluntari)
DF Romania ROU Szabolcs Kilyen (on loan to Mioveni, previously on loan at Miercurea Ciuc)
DF Romania ROU Cosmin Piciu (to Sporting Roșiori, previously on loan at Metalul Buzău)
DF Romania ROU Răzvan Prodan (on loan to Farul Constanța)
DF Romania ROU Sorin Rădoi (Retired)
DF Romania ROU Andrei Rusu (on loan to Medgidia)
DF Romania ROU Alexandru Sabangeanu (on loan to Farul Constanța)
DF Romania ROU Nicholas Suflaru (on loan to Medgidia)
MF Romania ROU Alexandru Cicâldău (to CS U Craiova)
MF Romania ROU Antonio Cruceru (to Petrolul Ploiești)
MF Romania ROU Doru Dumitrescu (on loan to Universitatea Cluj)
MF Romania ROU Mihai Ene (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești)
MF Romania ROU Eduard Florescu (to Botoșani, previously signed from Mioveni)
MF Romania ROU Giani Gherghiceanu (on loan to Alexandria)
MF Romania ROU Robert Grecu (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești, previously on loan at Argeș Pitești)
MF Romania ROU Florin Nicolescu (to Free agent, previously on loan at Afumați)
MF Romania ROU Rareș Oană (on loan to Sporting Liești)
MF Ghana GHA Kofi Twumasi (to Universitatea Cluj)
MF Romania ROU Raul Vidrășan (on loan to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
FW Romania ROU Romeo Bănică (on loan to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
FW Romania ROU Cristian Ene (to Universitatea Cluj)
FW Romania ROU Cristian Gavra (to Universitatea Cluj)
FW Romania ROU Mircea Manole (to Rapid București, previously on loan at Afumați)
FW Romania ROU Cezar Mihalache (on loan to Argeș Pitești, previously on loan at Chindia Târgoviște)
FW Romania ROU Cătălin Țîră (to Luceafărul Oradea, previously signed from Energeticianul)
DF Romania ROU Robert Băjan (to Rapid București)
DF Romania ROU Constantin Dima (to Astra Giurgiu)
DF Romania ROU Srdjan Luchin (to Dunărea Călărași)
DF Romania ROU Răzvan Prodan (on loan to Daco-Getica București, previously on loan at Farul Constanța)
FW Romania ROU Robert Răducanu (to FC U Craiova)
FW Romania ROU Alexandru Stoica (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești)
MF Romania ROU Robert Grecu (on loan to Daco-Getica București, previously on loan at Petrolul Ploiești)
MF Romania ROU Mihai Ene (on loan to ASU Politehnica Timișoara, previously on loan at Petrolul Ploiești)
FW Romania ROU Mihai Voduț (to Israel Beitar Jerusalem)
DF Romania ROU Dan Panait (on loan to Chindia Târgoviște, previously on loan at Concordia Chiajna)
FW Romania ROU Cristian Ene (on loan to ASU Politehnica Timișoara, previously on loan at Universitatea Cluj)
DF Romania ROU Robert Neciu (on loan to Farul Constanța)
MF Cape Verde CPV Mailson Lima (to Armenia Ararat-Armenia)
MF Romania ROU Vlad Chera (on loan to Ripensia Timișoara)
MF Russia RUS Amir Natkho (toBelarus FC BATE Borisov)

Preseason and friendlies

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  Win   Draw   Loss

20 June 2018 (2018-06-20) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 5–0 MoldovaFC Zimbru Chisinau Ovidiu, Romania
EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Viitorul
4 July 2018 Legia WarsawPoland 5–2 RomaniaViitorul Constanța Warsaw, Poland
20:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Stadium: Polish Army Stadium
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Warsaw)
5 July 2018 (2018-07-05) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 3–1 PolandRadomiak Radom Warka, Poland
EEST (UTC+3)
  • ? ?'
14 January 2019 (2019-01-14) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 2–1 HungaryFerencvárosi TC Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Rixos Belek
17 January 2019 (2019-01-17) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 2–2 RussiaFC Rubin Kazan Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Belis Belek
17 January 2019 (2019-01-17) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 0–5 GermanyVfR Aalen Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Sueno Belek
21 January 2019 (2019-01-21) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 0–1 DenmarkVejle Boldklub Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Sueno Belek
24 January 2019 (2019-01-24) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 0–3 RussiaYenisey Krasnoyarsk Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Sueno Belek
24 January 2019 (2019-01-24) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 1–2 Georgia (country)FC Saburtalo Tbilisi Belek, Turkey
Stadium: Sueno Belek
16 February 2019 (2019-02-16) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 4–0 RomaniaAxiopolis Cernavodă Ovidiu, Romania
EEST (UTC+3) Stadium: Complexul Academiei Hagi
23 March 2019 (2019-03-23) Viitorul ConstanțaRomania 3–0 MoldovaFC Zimbru Chisinau Ovidiu, Romania
EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Viitorul
Referee: Antonio Pascu

Competitions

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  Win   Draw   Loss

Liga I

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The Liga I fixture list was announced on 5 July 2018.

Regular season

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Table
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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
3 Universitatea Craiova 26 13 6 7 43 24 +19 45 Qualification for the Championship round
4 Astra Giurgiu 26 11 9 6 36 23 +13 42
5 Viitorul Constanța 26 11 5 10 26 27 −1 38
6 Sepsi OSK 26 10 7 9 32 25 +7 37
7 Botoșani 26 9 9 8 31 33 −2 36 Qualification for the Relegation round
Source: LPF (in Romanian), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off.[1]
Matches
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  Win   Draw   Loss

4 August 2018 (2018-08-04) 3 Viitorul Constanta 0–2 Fc Voluntari Ovidiu
EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Viitorul
26 August 2018 (2018-08-26) 6 Viitorul Constanța 1–4 FCSB Ovidiu
21:00 EEST (UTC+03) Ghiță Red card 5'
Mățan Yellow card 14'
Vînă 71'
Houri Yellow card 86'
Filip Yellow card 8'
Coman 45'
Nedelcu Yellow card 45+4'
Man 52'
Popescu Yellow card 69'
Qaka Yellow card 78'
Júnior Morais Yellow card 78'
D. Benzar 82'
Rusescu 89'
Stadium: Viitorul
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: István Kovács
Assistant referees: Vasile Marinescu, Ovidiu Artene
Fourth official: Florin Andrei
15 September 2018 (2018-09-15) 8 Viitorul Constanța 1–0 Hermannstadt Sibiu Ovidiu
EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Viitorul
29 September 2018 (2018-09-29) 10 Viitorul Constanța 1–0 Astra Giurgiu Ovidiu
EEST (UTC+3) Stadium: Viitorul
27 October 2018 (2018-10-27) 13 Botoșani 1–2 Viitorul Constanța Botoșani
EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Municipal
25 November 2018 (2018-11-25) 16 Voluntari 1–2 Viitorul Constanța Voluntari
EET (UTC+2)
Stadium: Anghel Iordănescu
2 December 2018 (2018-12-02) 17 Viitorul Constanța 4–1 Dinamo București Ovidiu
EET (UTC+2)
Stadium: Viitorul
5 December 2018 (2018-12-05) 18 Gaz Metan Mediaș 2–2 Viitorul Constanța Mediaș
EET (UTC+2)
Stadium: Gaz Metan
10 December 2018 (2018-12-10) 19 FCSB 2–0 Viitorul Constanța Pitești
20:00 EEST (UTC+02) Nedelcu Yellow card 19'
Tănase 41', Yellow card 55'
Filip 76'
Júnior Morais Yellow card 80'
Achim Yellow card 46'
Ghiță Yellow card 70'
Stadium: Nicolae Dobrin
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Marius Avram
Assistant referees: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu, Marius Nicoară
Fourth official: Andrei Florin Chivulete
15 December 2018 (2018-12-15) 20 Viitorul Constanța 0–1 CFR Cluj Ovidiu
EET (UTC+2) Stadium: Viitorul
9 February 2019 (2019-02-09) 23 Astra Giurgiu 3–0 Viitorul Constanța Giurgiu
EET (UTC+2)
*Alibec 51' 65'
Stadium: Marin Anastasovici
3 March 2019 (2019-03-03) 26 Viitorul Constanța 1–0 Botoșani Ovidiu
EET (UTC+2)
Stadium: Viitorul

Championship round

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Table
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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 CFR Cluj (C) 10 7 2 1 15 4 +11 50 Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
2 FCSB 10 7 2 1 18 6 +12 48 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
3 Viitorul Constanța 10 6 2 2 18 10 +8 39 Qualification to Europa League second qualifying round
4 Universitatea Craiova 10 4 1 5 8 10 −2 36 Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round
5 Astra Giurgiu 10 2 0 8 6 20 −14 27
6 Sepsi OSK 10 0 1 9 5 20 −15 20
Source: Soccerway, Romanian Football Federation
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion or teams for UEFA competitions). (Note: only criteria 6 and 7 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[2]
(C) Champions
Position by round
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Round12345678910
GroundAHAAHHAHHA
ResultWLDWWDLWWW
Position4444444433
Source: Liga I
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
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  Win   Draw   Loss

11 March 2019 (2019-03-11) 1 FCSB 1–2 Viitorul Constanța Bucharest
20:30 EEST (UTC+02) Bălașa Yellow card 17'
Coman 40'
Filip Yellow card 50'
Benzar Yellow card 64'
Coman Yellow card 76'
Calcan 15'
Mladen Yellow card 30'
Hagi 65' (pen.)
Artean Yellow card 88'
Vînă Yellow card 88'
Stadium: Arena Națională
Attendance: 8,783
Referee: Radu Petrescu
Assistant referees: Alexandru Cerei, Ciprian Florin Danşa
Fourth official: Marian Barbu
15 March 2019 (2019-03-15) 2 Viitorul Constanța 0–1 CFR Cluj Ovidiu
Alexandru Păun 73' Stadium: Viitorul
5 April 2019 (2019-04-05) 4 Astra Giurgiu 1–4 Viitorul Constanța Giurgiu
Alibec 34' Ganea 21' 70'

Casap 28'

Eric 60'
Stadium: Marin Anastasovici
21 April 2019 (2019-04-21) 6 Viitorul Constanța 1–1 FCSB Ovidiu
Summary
Stadium: Viitorul
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Marius Avram
29 April 2019 (2019-04-29) 7 CFR Cluj 3–1 Viitorul Constanța Cluj-Napoca
Stadium: Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu (Craiova), Ovidiu Artene (Vaslui) și Adrian Popescu (Craiova)
3 May 2019 (2019-05-03) 8 Viitorul Constanța 3–1 Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe Ovidiu
Stadium: Viitorul
Referee: Marian Barbu (Făgăraș-Brașov), Daniel Mitruți (Craiova-Dolj), Alexandru Vodă (Alba Iulia-Alba)
10 May 2019 (2019-05-10) 9 Viitorul Constanța 3–0 Astra Giurgiu Ovidiu
Stadium: Viitorul
Referee: Andrei Antonie (București), George Neacșu (Câmpulung Muscel – Argeș), Marius Marchidanu (Brăila)

Cupa României

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Round of 32

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26 September 2018 (2018-09-26) Concordia Chiajna 0–3 Viitorul Constanța Chiajna
Ghiță 14'

Leca* 65' (o.g.)

Ciobanu 90'
Stadium: Concordia

Round of 16

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Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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4 April 2019 1 Universitatea Craiova 1–2 Viitorul Constanța Craiova
EEST (UTC+3) Bancu 5' Houri 77'
Rivaldinho 89'
Stadium: Ion Oblemenco
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Cluj-Napoca)
25 April 2019 2 Viitorul Constanța 2–0
(4–1 agg.)
Universitatea Craiova Ovidiu
19:45 EET (UTC+2)
Summary
Stadium: Viitorul
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Radu Pettrescu

Final

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25 May 2019 Final Astra Giurgiu 1–2 Viitorul Constanța Ploiești
Alibec 41' Ghiță 76'
Eric 105+2'
Stadium: Ilie Oană
Attendance: 11,968
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Bucharest)

UEFA Europa League

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After finishing fourth in the 2017-18 Liga I, Viitorul Constanța entered the Europa League at the first qualifying round.

First qualifying round

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19 July 2018 (2018-07-19) 2nd Leg Viitorul Constanța Romania 0–0
(2–0 agg.)
Luxembourg Racing FC Stadionul Viitorul, Ovidiu
17:00 (18:00 EEST) Report
Second qualifying round
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21 July 2018 (2018-07-21) 1st Leg Viitorul Constanța Romania 2–2 Netherlands Vitesse Stadionul Viitorul, Ovidiu
17:00 (18:00 EEST) Drăguș 44', 49'
Artean Red card 79'
Report Foor Yellow card 37'
Matavž 54'
Linssen 72'
Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)
21 August 2018 (2018-08-21) 2nd Leg VitesseNetherlands 3–1
(5–3 agg.)
RomaniaViitorul Constanța GelreDome, Arnhem
17:00 (21:00 EEST) Matavž 23'
Büttner Yellow card 41'
Linssen 48'
Beerens 77', Yellow card 87'
Report De Nooijer Yellow card 18'
Houri Yellow card 39'
Drăguș 50'
Referee: Kevin Clancy (Scotland)

Statistics

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Goalscorers

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Rank Position Name Liga I Cupa României Europa League Total
1 MF Romania Ianis Hagi 10 3 1 14
2 FW Romania Denis Drăguș 7 0 4 11
3 MF Brazil Eric 3 2 0 5
3 FW France Lyes Houri 3 1 0 4
FW Brazil Rivaldinho 2 2 0 4
MF Romania Andreas Calcan 4 0 0 4
DF Romania Virgil Ghiță 1 2 0 3
4 MF Romania Ionuț Vînă 2 0 0 2
MF Romania Tudor Băluță 2 0 0 2
FW Romania Mihai Voduț 2 0 0 2
MF Romania Andrei Ciobanu 1 1 0 2
MF Romania Vlad Achim 1 1 0 2
FW Romania George Ganea 2 0 0 2
5 MF Romania Srdjan Luchin 1 0 0 1
MF Romania Sebastian Mladen 1 0 0 1
MF Romania Carlo Casap 1 0 0 1
MF Romania