⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
FC Stâmoarte secure historic victory over Dinamo Deltavaros in Confederation Cup final
29 May 5302
FC Stâmoarte players celebrate Aleksandr Vitayev's second goal of the game
In a heated contest at the Stefan Tatarescu Arena, FC Stâmoarte beat Dinamo Deltavaros 3-1 to win the Confederation Cup for the first time in over a century. Two goals from veteran Trigunian striker Aleksandr Vitayev and a late free kick from captain Petar Voiculet were enough to secure victory. Stâmoarte’s triumph is the first time since 5094 that a team outside the top division has won the trophy.
Confederation Cup glory marks the end of a remarkable season for Stâmoarte. Last week they secured promotion from the second division to the Confederation Superleague. Promotion back to the top flight appeared unthinkable only twelve months ago, when the club was almost relegated to the third tier for the first time since before the civil war.
According to Voiculet, the key to their success has been head coach Zobor Naranbaatar. Appointed in January last year, the young coach has overseen a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes by focusing on a bold, attacking brand of football. Zobor is notable as being the only ethnic Kuzaki coach in the top four divisions of the Confederation league system.
Over forty thousand fans made the journey from Stâmoarte to Cetatea Albă for the final. The early atmosphere was tense. Vitayev’s opening goal thirteen minutes into the game brought a thunderous reaction from the Stâmoarte supporters. Dinamo were able to find an equaliser four minutes after half-time but they failed to gain control of the game.
Vitayev headed Stâmoarte back in front shortly before the hour mark. After that, the alb-negrii never looked threatened. Voiculet’s free kick in injury time secured the famous trophy and sent the fans into rapture. Dinamo supporters were left frustrated. Despite a disappointing league campaign, they had a good opportunity to end the season with a trophy yet they failed to capitalise.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯