The 1988 Cupa României final was the 50th final of Romania's most prestigious football cup competition. The match was between Steaua București and Dinamo București, and was won by Steaua București. It was the club's 16th cup, but later in 1990 Steaua gave back the trophy because it was won unfairly.

Route to the final

Steaua București Round of 32Voinţa București0–3Steaua BucureștiRound of 16Maramureş Baia Mare1–3Steaua BucureștiQuarter-finalsSteaua București2–1Universitatea CraiovaSemi-finalsSteaua București3–1Sportul Studenţesc BucureștiDinamo București Round of 32Montana Sinaia1–2Dinamo BucureștiRound of 16Dinamo București4–1Progresul BrăilaQuarter-finalsDinamo București4–2Corvinul HunedoaraSemi-finalsDinamo București4–2Victoria București

Background The goal scored by Balint wasn't validated because of offside, at the signaling of assistant referee George Ionescu. Steaua retired from the field after the command of Valentin Ceaușescu, the son of president Nicolae Ceaușescu, but the Romanian Football Federation offered the Cup to Steaua București. In 1990, Steaua renounced the trophy because it was won unjustly.

The match was interrupted in 90th minute at the score 1–1, because the goal scored by Steaua was cancelled for the offside. In the end, the final was 2–1 for Steaua, but the team renounced the trophy.

Match details

GK 1 Gheorghe Liliac DF 2 Ștefan IovanDF 4 Adrian BumbescuDF 6 Miodrag BelodediciDF 3 Iosif RotariuMF 8 Lucian BălanMF 5 Tudorel Stoica (c)MF 11 Gheorghe PopescuMF 10 Gheorghe Hagi FW 7 Marius Lăcătuș FW 9 Victor Pițurcă Substitutions:FW 12 Gabi Balint Manager: Anghel Iordănescu GK 1 Dumitru MoraruDF 3 Iulian Mihăescu DF 4 Mircea Rednic DF 6 Ioan AndoneDF 2 Ioan Varga MF 5 Dănuț Lupu MF 8 Ioan Lupescu MF 10 Dorin Mateuț MF 11 Costel Orac FW 9 Rodion CămătaruFW 7 Claudiu VaișcoviciSubstitutions:DF 12 Lică Movilă FW 13 Florin Răducioiu Manager: Mircea Lucescu Match Officials Assistant referees: Gheorghe Constantin George Ionescu

See also List of Cupa României finals Eternal derby (Romania)

References

External links Romaniansoccer.ro