In the quarterfinal second legs of the Ungheni district football cup «MAGIRUS», played on Sunday, 12 July, the four semifinalists were decided. The first semifinal pits FC Mănoilești against FC Haiduc Bumbăta, and the second FC Sculeni against FC Unirea Cetireni. The results were announced by the Ungheni Territorial Football Association (ATF), the competition’s organiser.
Cetireni overturn a 0-2
The surprise of the evening belonged to FC Unirea Cetireni. Having lost the first leg 0-2 to FC Regina Maria Ungheni, the side from Cetireni won the return 3-0 and went through 3-2 on aggregate. “We’re through! We’re in the semifinal. Few gave us a chance. We answered on the pitch,” the club said.
At Zagarancea, the hosts were knocked out at home: FC Sculeni won 3-2 away and, with the 1-0 from the first leg, advanced 4-2 on aggregate.
Mănoilești and Bumbăta advance through the most goals
In the other two ties, the favourites went through, but not without nerves. FC Mănoilești saw off FC Speranța Semeni in an eight-goal second leg, winning 5-4 away; with the 2-1 from the first leg, they qualified 7-5 on aggregate. FC Haiduc Bumbăta, 5-2 up after the first game, drew 2-2 in Ungheni with FC Bârsa and advanced 7-4 on aggregate — ending the “remontada” FC Bârsa had hoped to pull off at home.
So the first semifinal brings together the two most prolific quarterfinalists: both Mănoilești and Haiduc Bumbăta scored 7 goals on aggregate. In the second, Sculeni meet Cetireni, the side that has just shown it can come from behind.
Who is still in the running
Of the eight teams that reached the quarterfinals, four localities remain in contention for the trophy: Mănoilești, Bumbăta, Sculeni and Cetireni. FC Speranța Semeni, FC Bârsa Ungheni, FC Regina Maria Ungheni and FC Zagarancea have been eliminated. The «MAGIRUS» Cup is the district’s amateur football cup competition, organised by ATF Ungheni; the winners of the two semifinals will meet in the final.