Athlete of the week
FCSB's goal-keeper Stefan Tarnovanu
Eugen Nasta, 08.10.2024, 13:45
Romanian football team FCSB after two rounds in Europa league has six points on their record sheet, out of a similar number of matches played. This past Thursday, holders FCSM succeeded a precious 1-nil away win against Greek team PAOK Thessalonica. For FCSB, it was the second win in a row.
It was a difficult game, all the more so as, from 55 minutes, FCSB were one man shy on the pitch since Darius Olaru was eliminated, being twice yellow-booked. The one-goal advantage provided by Daniel Barligea’s feat in added time was as frail as ever, yet FCSB succeeded to maintain the advantage. There were moments when FCSB’s defensive line-up proved powerless, yet goalie Stefan Tarnovanu made the difference with a couple of stunning saves.
Reason enough for Radio Romania International to designate Tarnovanu the Athlete of the week.
In Thessalonica, Tarnovanu succeeded his first save in minute 9, when he deflected Ghanaian Abdul Rahman Baba’s header. Then on 39 minutes Tarnovanu succeeded yet another last-gasp save as Brazilian Taison attempted a shot at goal.
In the second half, Tarnovanu again shone, thanks to a couple of saves he succeeded just six minutes after Olaru was eliminated, when Giannis Konstantelias shot the ball from inside FCSB’s box, or when he deflected Russian Magomed Ozdoev’s header. Tarnovanu was again put to the test on 85 minutes, then again, in the first minute of extra time, when he twice deflected Tiémoué Bakayoko’s header. In the seventh minute of added time, Tarnovanu proved he was also lucky: when shot by Ioannis Michailidis, the ball touched one of the posts and the score stayed the same.
Ştefan Târnovanu was born on May 9, 2000 in Iasi, in the east. He made his debut in football with the local Politehnica’s juniors team. As a senior footballer, in 2018 Stefan Tarnovanu made his debut in League One, when Politehnica Iasi drew against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, 1-all. Stefan has been playing for FCSB since 2020. We recall FCSB won the domestic champion title in 2024. Stefan Tarnovanu made his debut with the national team in November 2022, in Romania’s friendly match against Republic of Moldova, when Romania won, 5-nil. Tarnovanu was a full-timer in the national squad’s most recent game in the League of Nations, when Romania grabbed a 3-1 win against Lithuania.
