The West Derby () is a match between the fierce rivals SSU Politehnica Timișoara and UTA Arad, the biggest and most popular football clubs in western Romania.
History
At first glance, the reasons for rivalry between Timișoara and Arad are multiple. To begin with, it is the rivalry between the cities, both with a rich economic and cultural activity. Then it would be the postwar period, when, in administrative terms, Arad destiny was decided by Timișoara. In football, the two cities dispute the status of pioneer in Romanian football. All these aspects have contributed to today's enmity, between Poli and UTA. A decisive episode, however, occurred in 1964.
The flame that lit irreversible the rivalry between Poli and UTA was their match on 16 May 1964 in Timișoara. Both teams were hungry for points and the pressure was greater on the shoulders of Timișoara players, who were in a tough situation, the bottom of the table. Over 25,000 spectators stormed the new stadium on May 16, a stadium that was not completely built.
On UTA's bench was Coloman Braun-Bogdan aka "Csibi", a coach that a year before finished in 3rd place with Timișoara. After a quarrel with Remus Lazăr and Nelu Igna, he had been removed from the team and took over UTA. So it is understandable that the famous coach had to pay some "debts".
"Csibi not come alone, but with the referee Lulu Mihăilescu. They have scored a goal from offside, led us, and when we equalized at 3–3, Lereter scored, but the referee cancelled the goal. When people saw that, they triggered the scandal", remember, many years ago, Cicerone Manolache, one of the protagonists of that match. Then followed a bombing rocks on the lockers. The police intervened, but viewers could not be calmed so easy. Witnesses said that one of the police cars was overthrown by Druckers (Poli fans). The whole incident was left with arrests and expulsions for students who actively participated in the scandal.
Timișoara stadium was suspended, they disputed their last home matches in exile, at Reșița. At the end of that edition of the championship, Știința Timișoara relegated.
In the last 20 years, both teams faced financial problems, so the meetings between them becoming rarer, but perhaps more explosive. Firstly FC Politehnica Timișoara, it was the one who had financial problems in the early 2000s. Then Timișoara recovered and returns in the first league through an alliance with AEK București, they became for a short period Politehnica AEK Timișoara. But 2000s did not have to be gentle with their great rival, UTA Arad, as well. They played mostly in the second league except the moment when promoted instead of Liberty Salonta, which promoted on the pitch, but sold its place. Then in the early 2010s, both teams arrived in the second league. Then in 2012 FC Politehnica Timișoara went bankrupt and it was followed by her biggest rival UTA Arad, two years later, in 2014. If at Arad the team started from Liga IV, being supported by everyone and holding the old team record and logo, at Timișoara things had to be more complicated. After the dissolution of FC Politehnica Timișoara in 2012, appeared 2 teams. ACS Poli Timișoara, former ACS Recaș which was moved from Recaș to Timișoara and inheriting the old team record, a team that is supported by local authorities. The second one is SSU Politehnica Timișoara, a team supported by the fans of Poli (Druckeria), who started its road from Liga V. UTA fans consider SSU Politehnica Timișoara as their real rival because it is supported by FC Politehnica Timișoara fans.
On 13 November 2016, UTA and Poli met again, for the first time in this new format. The match end draw but UTA Arad had possession and occasions. Even though UTA controlled the match from the beginning to end, Poli managed to score the opening goal. Later, UTA scored and the match ended 1-1.
Statistics
CompetitionPlayedPolitehnica winsDrawsUTA winsPolitehnica goalsUTA goalsDivizia A / Liga I521516216578Divizia B / Liga II25105103235Cupa României100114Total7825213398117
Meetings
All-known meetings:
DateVenueHome teamScoreAway teamGoals (home)Goals (away)Competition29 August 1948Francisc von NeumannITA Arad 2–0Politehnica TimișoaraKarpinetz (7, 9)–Divizia A20 March 1949ȘtiințaCSU Timișoara 0–0ITA Arad––4 June 1950Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 4–0CSU TimișoaraCapas (4), Mercea (44, 62), Boitoș (87)–29 October 1950ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 2–1Flamura Roșie AradMorja (25), Pall (44 o.g.)Reinhardt (75)25 March 1951Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 2–2Știința Timișoara Dumitrescu (51), Pecsovszky (88)Boroș (46, 62)26 August 1951ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 0–3Flamura Roșie AradBoitoș (30), Covaci (75), Mercea (76)–19 April 1953ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 0–0Flamura Roșie Arad––4 October 1953Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 2–0Știința Timișoara Mercea (16), Váczi (69)–21 October 1953ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 1–4Flamura Roșie AradCupa României16 June 1954Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 1–1Știința Timișoara Don (26)Ciosescu (10)Divizia A27 October 1954ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 4–0Flamura Roșie AradCiosescu (8, 15, 80), Cojereanu (71 pen.)–20 March 1955Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 1–0Știința Timișoara Ioanovici (72)–28 August 1955ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 1–4Flamura Roșie AradR. Lazăr (82)Capas (18), Birău (32), Pecsovszky (85, 87)1 July 1956Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 1–2Știința Timișoara Boitoș (56)Dinulescu (40), Ciosescu (64)11 November 1956ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 3–2Flamura Roșie AradCiosescu (3, 58), Gârleanu (85)Pecsovszky (10), Jurcă (15)8 September 1957Francisc von NeumannFlamura Roșie Arad 3–3Știința Timișoara Jurcă (23, 59), Mercea (24)Ciosescu (52, 67), Dușan (81 o.g.)20 April 1958ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 2–2Flamura Roșie AradGârleanu (29), Cădariu (57)Matias (18), Țârlea I (20)21 September 1958Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–1Știința Timișoara Igna (59)Zaharia (58)29 March 1959ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 1–2UTA AradFilip (65 pen.)Țârlea I (12, 80)13 October 1960ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 2–3UTA AradGârleanu (18), Manolache (56)Pecsovszky (2), Metskas (22), Tăucean (53)23 April 1961Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–1Știința Timișoara Czako (8)Lereter (41)3 September 1961ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 1–0UTA AradR. Lazăr (53)–1 April 1962Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–1Știința Timișoara Mir. Sasu (77)Lereter (50)28 November 1962Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 3–2Știința Timișoara Leac (29), Chivu (40), Mir. Sasu (81)Bîtlan (14, 20)21 April 1963ȘtiințaȘtiința Timișoara 1–1UTA AradMițaru (3)Mir. Sasu (30)20 October 1963Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–1Știința Timișoara Tomeș (23), Țârlea I (55)Surdan (90)17 May 19641 MaiȘtiința Timișoara 3–3UTA AradMițaru (28), Manolache (30), Lereter (75)Țârlea I (9), Tomeș (23, 76)5 September 1965Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–0Știința Timișoara ––10 April 19661 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 1–0UTA AradLereter (25)–9 November 1966Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 5–2Politehnica Timișoara Șchiopu (5, 19, 56), Tr. Popescu (14, 44)Mihăilă (61), Popanică (86)28 May 19671 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 4–2UTA AradCotormani (54), Regep (67), Lereter (74 pen.), Mureșan (82)Jac (31), Țârlea I (89 pen.)9 December 1973Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 3–0Politehnica Timișoara Kun (23), Brosovszky (42), Domide (87)–19 June 19741 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 1–3UTA AradBojin (16)Trandafilon (3, 69), Leac (71)10 November 19741 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 0–0UTA Arad––18 May 1975Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–0Politehnica Timișoara Brosovszky (65 pen., 70)–23 November 19751 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 3–0UTA AradAnghel (33), Dembrovschi (74), Petrescu (80)–9 June 1976Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–1Politehnica Timișoara Colnic (12), Brosovszky (29)Floareș (62)10 October 19761 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 2–1UTA AradDembrovschi (11 pen.), Roșca (89)Nedelcu (63)15 May 1977Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–1Politehnica Timișoara Leac (29), Brosovszky (84)Lața (75)12 October 19771 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 1–1UTA AradLața (54 pen.)Brosovszky (20)23 April 1978Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–1Politehnica TimișoaraBrosovszky (11), Coraș (16)Anghel (9)28 October 1978Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–0Politehnica Timișoara Brosovszky (26)–25 April 19791 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 1–0UTA AradCotec (15)–14 October 19811 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 0–0UTA Arad––17 April 1982Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–0Politehnica Timișoara ––18 September 1983Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–2Politehnica Timișoara Țârlea II (3)Anghel (53), Vlătănescu (63)Divizia B1 April 19841 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 3–0UTA AradGiuchici (32, 35), Ad. Manea (78)–16 November 19861 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 4–2UTA AradVușcan (7), Bolba (28, 55), Sabou (50)Lucaci (11, 22)7 June 1987Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–2Politehnica Timișoara –Bobaru (25), Bolba (70)11 November 19881 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 3–1UTA AradIonuț (8), Vlaicu (59), Varga (87)Mulțescu (42)12 March 1989Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–3Politehnica Timișoara Petrescu (1, 74)Trăistaru (30), Oloșutean (35), Varga (64)11 September 1993Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–0Politehnica Timișoara A. Ungur (37)–Divizia A27 February 19941 MaiPolitehnica Timișoara 1–0UTA AradVarga (83 pen.)–6 September 1997Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–3Politehnica Timișoara Volocaru (90)Stoican (14), Ibrahim (75), Călin (81)Divizia B28 March 1998Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 1–1UTA AradMar. Sasu (52)Ad. Baciu (50)5 September 1998Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–1Politehnica Timișoara Cl. Drăgan (61)Stoican (4)7 April 1999Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 1–2UTA AradCodrea (12)Mariș (25), Cl. Drăgan (46)27 October 1999Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 1–0Politehnica Timișoara Cr. Todea (66)–3 May 2000Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 2–0UTA AradStupar (45), Naidin (90)–18 October 2000Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 0–1UTA Arad–Cr. Todea (52)12 May 2001Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–0Politehnica Timișoara ––13 October 2001Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 1–2UTA AradBenga (86)Miculescu (38, 43)11 May 2002Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 7–0Politehnica Timișoara Drida (4), Fritea (11), Miculescu (12, 43), Ciubăncan (48), Ianu (51, 61)–5 October 2002Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 3–4UTA AradM. Oprea (1, 68), R. Stancu (39)Constantinovici (51, o.g.), N'Jock (62), Manta (77), Chițescu (90+2)Divizia A16 April 2003Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–1Politehnica Timișoara–M. Oprea (30)18 November 2006Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 2–0UTA AradPleșan (25), Mansour (74)–Liga I18 May 2007Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–1Politehnica TimișoaraHora (27), Edson (55)Bucur (50)1 September 2007Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 2–3Politehnica TimișoaraCr. Todea (26), Bălțoi (49)Bucur (4, 12, 89)15 March 2008Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 2–0UTA AradArm. Karamyan (23), Abiodun (62)–30 September 2011Francisc von NeumannUTA Arad 0–0Politehnica Timișoara––Liga II20 April 2012Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 0–1UTA Arad–Galanis (11)13 November 2016MotorulUTA Arad 1–1Politehnica TimișoaraAndor (88)Blănaru (70)21 May 2017Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 0–3UTA Arad–Curtuiuș (30), Gligor (33), Piccioni (90+2)15 October 2017Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 2–1UTA AradPredescu (3), Bilia (62)Asani (9)24 April 2018Otto GreffnerUTA Arad 3–0 (forfait)Politehnica Timișoara––27 October 2018Dan PăltinișanuPolitehnica Timișoara 1–3 UTA AradBozian (67 pen.)Janos (14, 40), Rus (87)4 May 2019MotorulUTA Arad 0–2 Politehnica Timișoara–Ignea (10), Al. Manea (71)21 October 2019MotorulUTA Arad 1–0 Politehnica TimișoaraRus (49)–
Notes: UTA Arad won the match disputed on 24 April 2018 by (forfait), after SSU Politehnica Timișoara players have retired from the pitch in the 62nd minute, at the score of 0-0, as a protest for the fact that only 70 supporters of Politehnica were allowed on the stadium.
References
External links romaniansoccer.ro