2012–13 FC Dinamo București season

Dinamo started its preparations for the new season on 15 June, with the medical examination. Only one new player was present, Andrei Cristea, who returned to Dinamo after one and a half years spent in Germany.[1] Another new player brought by Dinamo was Issa Ba, a Senegalese midfielder whose contract with CS Gaz Metan Mediaş expired.[2] Instead, Dinamo released Iulian Tameş and Dorel Stoica on mutual agreement, and sold Adrian Scarlatache to Khazar Lankaran.[3]

On 21 June, Dinamo left for Austria, for an 18 days training camp, during which, the team played a large number of friendly games. The first matches were against amateur football teams from the Bischofshofen region. Thus, Dinamo's manager, Dario Bonetti had the chance to see the entire team at work, and also the players brought from the youth team, or players on trial. The first important friendly game was played against Ukrainean champions, Shakhtar Donetsk. Dinamo lost the game 1–0.[4] Dinamo failed to win any other friendly game played in Austria, losing five and drawing against Anorthosis Famagusta from Cyprus.

On 26 June, Dinamo lost an important player, Cosmin Moţi, sold to the Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad. The defender who played more than six years for Dinamo was in his final part of his contract, and the Red Dogs accepted the offer because they could lose him for free in the next months.[5]

Instead, Dinamo managed to sign Cristian Scutaru and Mircea Axente, both returning to Liga I where they played for Poli Timișoara. In the previous season, they played for Poli in the second division. Also, Dinamo signed the Bulgarian midfielder Boris Galchev, from CSKA Sofia.

Dinamo started the season on a high note, winning the first match and consequently the first trophy. It was the Romanian Supercup, where Dinamo defeated the champions CFR Cluj, after penalties. The white and reds controlled the game, having a superior ball possession (60.4%)and a larger number of completed passes (534 vs. 308).[6]

In Liga I, Dinamo played the first game against a newly promoted team, CSS Drobeta-Turnu Severin. In front of 14,500 spectators, Dinamo opened the score in the 51st minute, through Mircea Axente, at his first game for the white-reds. The home team equalized a couple of minutes later, but Ionel Dănciulescu, coming from the bench, brought all three points for Dinamo with a goal scored in the 80th minute. The same day, 20 July, Dinamo sold one of its symbols, Marius Niculae, a player grown at the club's academy, who left for a few years to play abroad, but returned to Dinamo. He was transferred to Liga I rivals FC Vaslui.

The first home game in this season was played on National Arena, where Dinamo decided to move for the entire season.[7] On 29 July, Dinamo defeated CSMS Iaşi 5–2, George Ţucudean scoring four goals and offering the decisive pass for the fifth. The striker received the perfect ten in the Gazeta Sporturilor match chronicle.[8]

The first false step came in the third round, when Dinamo met FC Braşov. In Braşov, Dinamo won only once since 2004,[9] and the black series continued. Braşov led twice, but Dinamo came back every time, and the match ended in a tie.[10]

In the fourth round, Dinamo should've met Rapid Bucuresti, but the game was postponed because at that time Dinamo played a friendly game against giants FC Barcelona. The game was played at National Arena in Bucharest, and although Barcelona won 2–0, Dinamo had moments when they rose to their rivals level.[11]

Eight Dinamo players were called to the national teams for the friendly games played at 15 August.[12] Two of them scored goals, Marius Alexe and George Ţucudean helping Romania U21 squad to win against Sweden U21.

Despite the big number of players who left to play internationally, Dinamo's game in the fifth round was not postponed and the manager was forced to change the squad a lot, players like Marius Alexe, Constantin Nica and Cosmin Matei being rested.[13] Thus, Dinamo failed to win at Chiajna, against Concordia. The game ended 0-0.

The European season started badly for Dinamo. In front of 20,000 fans, at Arena Națională, Dinamo was beaten by the Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv, quarterfinalist in the Europa League the previous season.

In the sixth round, Dinamo came back to its old stadium, because Arena Nationala was not available due to a concert by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Only 4,000 fans came to see the match against Petrolul Ploiești. Dinamo took the lead in the third minute, when Srdjan Luchin scored with a header his first goal for the club in the championship. Previously, he scored two goals for Dinamo, both in the Romanian Cup. Petrolul equalised in the 29th minute, but Dario Bonetti's inspiration paid off in the second part. The manager sent Ţucudean on the pitch in the 62nd minute, and the striker scored in the injury time after a cross from Cătălin Munteanu.

In the second leg of the Europa League encounter, Dinamo could not produce a miracle. They were beaten at Kharkiv, 2–1.

The seventh round produce Dinamo's first defeat in the championship. In Ploiești, against Astra, Dinamo lost 1–0, the only goal being scored in the injury time, from a penalty kick. Dinamo played almost the entire second half with only 10 men, Paul Koulibaly being sent off in the 49th minute.

The break for the national teams didn't help, after that Dinamo suffering the third defeat in a row. This time, at home, against Romanian champions CFR Cluj.

The drought was ended at Cluj-Napoca, where Dinamo defeated Universitatea Cluj, 2–1. It was the first game of the season for Ionel Dănciulescu as a starter, and the striker scored one goal, his 209th in Liga I, from a penalty that he obtained. Alexandru Curtean scored the other goal for Dinamo. Three days later, Dinamo started with a win the campaign to defend the trophy in Cupa României. In front of their own fans, at Dinamo Stadium, the red-dogs defeated Vointa Sibiu after extra-time.

In the next championship round, Dinamo met the former leader, Pandurii Targu Jiu. The game was played at National Arena, under special conditions. Dinamo commemorated 12 years since Cătălin Hâldan died, and the supporters created a special captain armband, with Hâldan face.[14] In this game, Ionel Dănciulescu played for the 490th time in Liga I, equalling a record detained so far by Costică Ştefănescu.[15] Dănciulescu scored a goal against Pandurii, his 210th in Liga I. Dinamo defeated Pandurii 3–0. In the next game, at Mediaş, Dănciulescu played his 491st match in Liga I, after which he became the player with the most presences in the first league. The team failed to win the third game in a row, drawing with Gaz Metan, 2-2.

The competition took a break for the national team's games. After the break, Dinamo suffered another defeat at home. The newly promoted Gloria Bistriţa lead 2–0 at Arena Naţională, Dinamo managed to score a single goal and in the second half Ionel Dănciulescu missed a penalty.

The first Bucharest derby of the season was played on 22 October, against Rapid. The game was initially scheduled in August, but it was postponed due to the friendly game against FC Barcelona. Rapid took the lead after a goal from Daniel Pancu, in the 30th minute, but Marius Alexe scored twice, the second time from the penalty spot, and Dinamo won 2–1, climbling to the fifth place in the championship. After that, Dinamo continued its sinusoidal evolution, and failed to win against Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ. The game ended in a goalless draw.

Dinamo started the month of November on a high note, managing to qualify to the quarterfinals stage of the Romanian Cup with a win in Târgu Jiu, against Pandurii. It was the second win in the season against this team, and the first loss suffered by Pandurii at home.

In the Eternal derby, against Steaua, Dinamo led at the half time, after a goal scored by Marius Alexe. After one hour, the referee, Alexandre Boucaut from Belgium, gave a penalty kick for Steaua, transformed by Raul Rusescu. In the 80th minute, the referee didn't see an obvious foul against Cosmin Matei, committed by Chipciu who should've been sent off for this foul.[16] Two minutes later, Steaua scored for 2–1, and in the 87th minute, their third goal came, putting a 13 points distance between the two rivals.

Neither in the next game, Dinamo could not find the way to victory. The "White-and-reds" lost at home against FC Vaslui, 1–0. Thus, this is the worst start of a season in 41 years for Dinamo, since 1971.[17] As a consequence, Bonetti was sacked and Dorinel Munteanu was installed the new head coach.[18] Munteanu signed a contract for two and a half years. His debut game was in Constanța, against Viitorul. The game was only two days after his installation, so he didn't change much the team comparing with the usual players used by Bonetti. The game ended in a draw, 1-1, after Viitorul failed to convert a penalty in the first half, when the score was 0-0.

The first win under Dorinel Munteanu came against the trainer's former team, Oţelul Galaţi. Dinamo won the game 2–1.

In the quarter-finals of the Romanian Cup, Dinamo played away against CFR Cluj. Despite having a player sent-off, Boubacar Mansaly in the 31st minute, Dinamo took the lead in the 60th minute, due to a goal scored by Marius Alexe. Rafael Bastos equalized in the 66th minute, then Gabriel Mureşan scored the winning goal in the 101st minute, transforming a free kick. Dinamo ended the game with nine players on the pitch, Constantin Nica being sent-off in the final minutes. Dinamo lost 2–1, and failed to defend its trophy.

The month of December started well for Dinamo who won the game against CS Severin, 4–2. The game was played at the Dinamo stadium, instead of Arena Naţională, and brought only 200 people in the stands. Dinamo remained unbeaten with Munteanu for another game, as the match against CSMS Iaşi ended in a draw. The pitch was covered in snow and made the players' mission heavier.[19]

At the end of the year, after only one month and five games in charge at Dinamo, Dorinel Munteanu resigned as head coach, citing the wish to follow his dream to coach abroad.[20] His replacement was Cornel Ţălnar who started his fifth spell at the helm of the team.[21]

After the winter holiday, Dinamo started its preparations for the second half of the season with a training period at Poiana Braşov, during which, the new coach, Cornel Ţălnar, concentrated on physical exercises.

On 21 January, Dinamo announced that defender Cristian Pulhac ended his contract after almost 11 years spent at the club.[22] Dinamo also parted ways with striker George Ţucudean, sold to Standard Liege.[23]

The first official game of the spring season was played against FC Braşov. The game was played at Dinamo stadium, the club decided to move back to its own arena and kept only two games at Arena Naţională, the games against Steaua şi Astra Ploieşti. Against Braşov, Dinamo won 2–1, after two goals from Marius Alexe. The visitors played with only ten men from the 40th minute, after Cristian Ionescu was sent off.

The month of March started perfectly for Dinamo who won the derby against Rapid, played in Giulești stadium. Ionel Dănciulescu scored the only goal of the game.

On 14 March, the club changed its owner. Businessman Ionuț Negoiță bought the stocks that belonged to Nicolae Badea and Dragoş Săvulescu and gained control of 90% of the club.[24]

On 16 March, Dănciulescu made his 500th appearance in Liga I, becoming the first player in history to reach this mile. The event happened in a game lost by Dinamo against Petrolul Ploieşti.

For the game against Astra Giurgiu, Dinamo returned to National Arena, and more than 17.000 fans came to support the team. Dinamo won the game 1–0, after a goal scored by Marius Alexe in the middle of the first half. Before the game, Ionel Dănciulescu was awarded for the 500 appearances in Liga I. He received an award from the club, given by two of Dinamo's legends, Cornel Dinu and Ion Nunweiller, and an award from the CCA – Referees' Commission, given by the referee of the game, Sebastian Colţescu.

Dinamo began April with a 1–0 win away at CFR Cluj, marked their fifth win in six league games. This saw the team climbing to number four in the rankings, two points behind Astra Giurgiu, the team placed on the second spot. Dănciulescu scored the only goal against CFR Cluj.

In the 22nd minute of the Cluj-Napoca game, Dinamo's captain, Cătălin Munteanu was injured. He suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligaments at the right knee and he was operated at a clinic in Turkey.[25]

On 14 April, Dinamo failed to win against Universitatea Cluj, in a game played at Arena Naţională. The Cluj-Napoca team, managed by former Dinamo player Ionel Ganea, opened the score, but Nicolae Muşat scored his first goal for Dinamo and brought a point for the "red dogs". The following round, Dinamo lost away, against Pandurii. This was the first game in 2013 without a goal scored by Dinamo. The team returned quickly to the winning ways with the victory against Gaz Metan Mediaş, the following round. Alexe scored the first goal in this game, his 11th of the Liga I season, and Andrei Cristea ended his goal drought, scoring his first goal of the season.

In the first game of May, Dinamo travelled to Bistriţa to meet Gloria, the last team in the standings. Cornel Ţălnar had a few changes in the squad, Dorin Rotariu, 17 years, being used in the starting 11 for the first time in his career. Gloria led after a goal scored by Andrei Enescu, but Marius Alexe scored twice, each time from the penalty spot, and Dinamo took all the three points.

Alexe scored again in the following game, at home, against Ceahlăul, but his goal was not enough for a win. The game ended with a draw, 1-1.

On 10 May, Dinamo met its biggest rival, Steaua. The game was played at Arena Naţională, in front of 43,789 spectators. Steaua won 2–0, Dinamo losing for the fourth time in a row in the Eternal derby.

Dinamo continued its bad shape the following week, when they lost against FC Vaslui, 4–1, the biggest loss suffered during the entire season. The next game brought another defeat. This time, at home, against Viitorul Constanţa. Dinamo led 2–1, but the visitors scored twice in the final half-hour and won 3–2. After this match, Dinamo lost all chances to qualify for a European competition, ending a period of 15 consecutive years in the continental cups.[26]

The final game of the season was played away at Oţelul Galaţi. Dinamo won 1-0 after a goal scored by Mircea Axente. Despite this win, Dinamo finished the season on the sixth place.

FC Dinamo plays in four competitions: Liga I, UEFA Europa League, Cupa României and Supercupa României.

Kickoff times are in EET.

CS Turnu Severin v Dinamo București

20 July 1	CS Turnu Severin	1–2	Dinamo București	Municipal
20:20	Vancea  52'	Report	Axente  50' Dănciulescu  80' Grigore  66' Dănciulescu  80'	Attendance: 14,500 Referee: Alexandru Tudor (București)

Dinamo București v CSMS Iași

29 July 2	Dinamo București	5–2	CSMS Iași	Arena Națională
21:30	Ţucudean  13', 22', 46', 48' Rus  50' Pulhac  64' Alexe  66'	Report	Onofraș  28' Vladu  83'	Attendance: 7,850 Referee: Marius Bocăneală (Galați)

FC Brașov v Dinamo București

6 August 3	FC Brașov	2–2	Dinamo București	Silviu Ploeşteanu
21:30	Batin  16' Buga  59'	Report	Grigore  39' Matei  72' Muşat  44'	Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Sebastian Colţescu (Craiova)

Dinamo București v Rapid București

22 October 4	Dinamo București	2–1	Rapid București	Arena Națională
21:30	Alexe  45', 62' (pen.) Alexe  63'	Report	Pancu  30'	Attendance: 16,037 Referee: Cristian Balaj (Baia Mare)

Concordia Chiajna v Dinamo București

17 August 5	Concordia Chiajna	0–0	Dinamo București	Concordia
21:30		Report	Boubacar  29' Munteanu  90+2'	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Marius Avram (București)

Dinamo București v Petrolul Ploiești

26 August 6	Dinamo București	2–1	Petrolul Ploiești	Dinamo
21:30	Luchin  3' Ţucudean  90+3' Luchin  21' Curtean  53' Galchev  59' Grigore  61'	Report	Grozav  29'	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Cristian Balaj (Baia Mare)

Astra Giurgiu v Dinamo București

2 September 7	Astra Giurgiu	1–0	Dinamo București	Astra
17:00	Tembo  90+5' (pen.)	Report	Koulibaly  49' Nica  69' Grigore  90+3'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Adrian Cojocaru (Galați)

Dinamo București v CFR Cluj

14 September 8	Dinamo București	0–1	CFR Cluj	Arena Națională
21:30	Munteanu  8' Boubacar  34'	Report	Rui Pedro  64'	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Marius Avram (București)

Universitatea Cluj v Dinamo București

22 September 9	Universitatea Cluj	1–2	Dinamo București	Cluj Arena
21:30	Dinu  7' (pen.)	Report	Dănciulescu  23' (pen.) Curtean  63' Boubacar  2' Pulhac  7' Nica  34'	Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Teodor Crăciunescu (Râmnicu Vâlcea)

Dinamo București v Pandurii Târgu Jiu

1 October 10	Dinamo București	3–0	Pandurii Târgu Jiu	Arena Națională
20:30	Curtean  6' Alexe  57' Dănciulescu  77' Nica  38' Pulhac  56' Dănciulescu  67'	Report		Attendance: 13,545 Referee: Sebastian Colţescu (Craiova)

Gaz Metan Mediaș v Dinamo București

6 October 11	Gaz Metan Mediaș	2–2	Dinamo București	Gaz Metan
21:30	Astafei  26' Bawab  38'	Report	Alexe  17' Trtovac  48' (o.g.) Rus  50' Pulhac  56' Nica  62'  78'	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: István Kovacs (Carei)

Dinamo București v Gloria Bistrița

19 October 12	Dinamo București	1–2	Gloria Bistrița	Arena Națională
21:30	Matei  45' Koulibaly  90+5'	Report	Bragança  27' Predescu  41'	Attendance: 6,127 Referee: Radu Petrescu (București)

Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț v Dinamo București

27 October 13	Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț	0–0	Dinamo București	Ceahlăul
21:30		Report	Curtean  4' Ţucudean  25' Matei  41' Álvarez  75' Ba  90'	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Lucian Rusandu (Sf. Gheorghe)

Steaua București v Dinamo București

4 November 14	Steaua București	3–1	Dinamo București	Arena Națională
21:30	Rusescu  63' (pen.), 83' Szukała  87'	Report	Alexe  38' Munteanu  42' Matei  75' Boubacar  89'	Attendance: 49,112 Referee: Alexandre Boucaut (Belgium)

Dinamo București v FC Vaslui

10 November 15	Dinamo București	0–1	FC Vaslui	Arena Națională
21:30	Dănciulescu  11' Pulhac  64' Ba  70' Grigore  70' Luchin  77' Ţucudean  90+2' Alexe  90+4'	Report	Sânmărtean  37'	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Marius Avram (București)

Viitorul Constanța v Dinamo București

17 November 16	Viitorul Constanța	1–1	Dinamo București	Farul
21:30	Benzar  72'	Report	Ba  79' Nica  16'	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Marcel Bîrsan (București)

Dinamo București v Oțelul Galați

23 November 17	Dinamo București	2–1	Oțelul Galați	Arena Națională
20:30	Alexe  16' (pen.) Matei  30' (pen.) Ţucudean  42' Munteanu  61' Matei  79'	Report	Rus  60' (o.g.)	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Lucian Rusandu (Sf. Gheorghe)

Dinamo București v CS Turnu Severin

3 December 18	Dinamo București	4–2	CS Turnu Severin	Dinamo
20:30	Matei  34' Dănciulescu  47' Alexe  51' (pen.) Ţucudean  56' Ţucudean  10' Galchev  57'	Report	Neacșa  15' (pen.) Thomas  80'	Attendance: 200 Referee: Cătălin Popa (Pitești)

CSMS Iași v Dinamo București

9 December 19	CSMS Iași	1–1	Dinamo București	Emil Alexandrescu
20:00	Straton  1'	Report	Tincu  22' (o.g.) Rus  59'	Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Cristian Balaj (Baia Mare)

Dinamo București v FC Brașov

24 February 20	Dinamo București	2–1	FC Brașov	Dinamo
20:30	Alexe  18', 33' (pen.) Rus  21' Curtean  29' Nica  89'	Report	Păun  60' Ionescu  40'	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Marcel Bârsan (București)

Rapid București v Dinamo București

3 March 21	Rapid București	0–1	Dinamo București	Giulești-Valentin Stănescu
20:30		Report	Dănciulescu  64' Grigore  8' Mușat  32' Dănciulescu  40' Boubacar  71' Bălgrădean  76' Cristea  78'	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Marius Avram (București)

Dinamo București v Concordia Chiajna

11 March 22	Dinamo București	2–0	Concordia Chiajna	Dinamo
19:30	Axente  86' Matei  90+4' Alexe  55' Luchin  58' Nica  71'  77'	Report		Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Carei)

Petrolul Ploiești v Dinamo București

16 March 23	Petrolul Ploiești	2–1	Dinamo București	Ilie Oană
21:30	Bokila  8' (pen.) Sauvadet  55'	Report	Axente  14' Boubacar  31' Luchin  63'	Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Radu Petrescu (București)

Dinamo București v Astra Giurgiu

31 March 24	Dinamo București	1–0	Astra Giurgiu	Arena Națională
20:30	Alexe  23' Munteanu  43' Luchin  87' Bălgrădean  88'	Report		Attendance: 17,654 Referee: Sebastian Colţescu (Craiova)

CFR Cluj v Dinamo București

6 April 25	CFR Cluj	0–1	Dinamo București	Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
21:30		Report	Dănciulescu  62' Rus  65' Boubacar  73' Bălgrădean  90'	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Alexandru Tudor (București)

Dinamo București v Universitatea Cluj

13 April 26	Dinamo București	1–1	Universitatea Cluj	Arena Națională
21:30	Mușat  80' Curtean  14' Dănciulescu  26' Alexe  65' Matei  70' Luchin  70' Bălgrădean  90+5'	Report	Tony  74'	Attendance: 18,631 Referee: Cătălin Popa (Piteşti)

Pandurii Târgu Jiu v Dinamo București

21 April 27	Pandurii Târgu Jiu	2–0	Dinamo București	Tudor Vladimirescu
21:30	Ibeh  50' Nistor  74'	Report	Boubacar  26' Axente  27' Luchin  89'	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (Arad)

Dinamo București v Gaz Metan Mediaș

28 April 28	Dinamo București	2–0	Gaz Metan Mediaș	Arena Națională
14:00	Alexe  43' Cristea  83' Rus  37' Mușat  48' Cristea  84'	Report		Attendance: 19,257 Referee: Adrian Comănescu (Rm. Vâlcea)

Gloria Bistrița v Dinamo București

3 May 29	Gloria Bistrița	1–2	Dinamo București	Jean Pădureanu
20:30	Enescu  21'	Report	Alexe  26' (pen.), 75' (pen.) Luchin  20' Matei  61' Alexe  80'	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Lucian Rusandu (Sfântu Gheorghe)

Dinamo București v Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

7 May 30	Dinamo București	1–1	Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț	Arena Națională
19:00	Alexe  67' Tudose  70'	Report	Lukanović  24'	Attendance: 9,468 Referee: Radu Petrescu (București)

Dinamo București v Steaua București

10 May 31	Dinamo București	0–2	Steaua București	Arena Națională
21:00	Curtean  19' Dănciulescu  56' Strătilă  58' Rus  61' Dandea  75' Cristea  83'	Report	Boubacar  13' (o.g.) Tănase  70'	Attendance: 43,789 Referee: Sebastian Colţescu (Craiova)

FC Vaslui v Dinamo București

18 May 32	FC Vaslui	4–1	Dinamo București	Municipal
21:30	Antal  22' Celeban  33' Stanciu  59' Temwanjera  89'	Report	Strătilă  27' Strătilă  41'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (Arad)

Dinamo București v Viitorul Constanța

24 May 33	Dinamo București	2–3	Viitorul Constanța	Dinamo
21:30	Dănciulescu  16' Alexe  50' Dănciulescu  43' Grigore  69'	Report	Lazăr  11' Chițu  62' Bălașa  89'	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Cristian Balaj (Baia Mare)

Oțelul Galați v Dinamo București

28 May 34	Oțelul Galați	0–1	Dinamo București	Oțelul
22:00		Report	Axente  68' Boubacar  38' Naumovski  44' Strătilă  45' Rus  52' Grigore  54' Alexe  60' Axente  73' Luchin  79'	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Marian Balaci (Tr. Severin)