Former Ploiești derby
Astra fans (top) and Petrolul fans (bottom)
LocationRomania (formerly Ploiești)
TeamsPetrolul Ploiești
Astra Giurgiu
First meetingPetrolul Ploiești 2–1 Astra Ploiești
1998–99 Divizia A
(8 August 1998)
Latest meetingAstra Giurgiu 1–2 Petrolul Ploiești
2021–22 Liga II
(31 October 2021)
Statistics
Meetings total27
Most winsPetrolul Ploiești (10)

The Former Ploiești derby (Romanian: Fostul derbi al Ploieștiului) was the name given in football to any match between Romanian clubs Petrolul Ploiești and Astra Giurgiu. The two sides won a combined eleven domestic titles, and as of 2022 Petrolul competes in the Liga I, while Astra last played in the Liga III and is dissolved.

Background and history

Neither team played continuously in the city of Ploiești since inception; Astra was founded in 1921 in Ploiești as Clubul Sportiv Astra-Română,[1] while Petrolul appeared three years later in the Romanian capital of Bucharest as Juventus, following a merger.[2] The latter won its first league championship in the 1929–30 season, and in 1952 moved to Ploiești and changed its name to Flacăra Ploiești accordingly. It achieved three more national titles in 1957–58, 1958–59 and 1965–66.

The rivalry only started in 1998, when Astra promoted for the first time to the Liga I under the ownership of businessman Ioan Niculae. Their first meeting was a league fixture on 8 August 1998, which Petrolul won 2–1 at home. In July 2003, Astra Ploiești changed its name to FC Petrolul Ploiești, with Florin Bercea and Ioan Niculae becoming owners of the newly-formed entity and also with the home ground moving to Astra Stadium.[3] According to the Romanian Football Federation, the new entity took over Petrolul's brand and record; Astra was refounded by Niculae in 2005 as CSM Ploiești after he renounced his stake in Petrolul.

In September 2012, Astra relocated to Giurgiu after 91 years in Prahova County, but even after the move the rivalry continued between the governances of the two clubs, with Ioan Niculae claiming at one point that Petrolul does not have any honours after the events of 2003–2005.[4] While Astra did not attract large crowds in neither Ploiești nor Giurgiu, Petrolul fans continued to consider their derby with Rapid București the most important one.

Astra became a prominent figure in Romanian football in the 2010s, as it won its first four major honours (one national title, one national cup and two supercups) and qualified twice for the UEFA Europa League group stages in Giurgiu. During the same time period, Petrolul only won one Cupa României in the 2012–13 season and went bankrupt in 2016. Astra additionally lost three cup finals in 2017, 2019 and 2021 on the Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești, the home ground of its former local opponent.

The two rivals met again in the same league during the 2021–22 Liga II season, but their ultimate fates were antithetical—Petrolul returned to the Liga I after ascending through the Romanian league system, while Astra relegated to the third division. On 19 October 2022, Astra withdrew from the championship and was subsequently dissolved.

Statistics

Head to head results

As of game played 31 October 2021[5]
Competition Played Petrolul wins Draws Astra wins Petrolul goals Astra goals
Liga I186752019
Liga II5311118
Cupa României411225
Total2710983332

Honours

Petrolul Ploiești Competition Astra Giurgiu
Major
4Liga I1
3Cupa României1
0Supercupa României2
7Aggregate4
Lower leagues
9Liga II1
1Liga III1
1Liga IV0
11Aggregate2
18Total aggregate6

All matches

  Petrolul Ploiești win   Draw   Astra Giurgiu win

As of game played 31 October 2021[5]
Date Venue Score Competition
8 August 1998 Stadionul Ilie Oană 2–1 Liga I
13 March 1999 Stadionul Astra 1–1
31 October 1999 Stadionul Astra 2–0
3 May 2000 Stadionul Ilie Oană 1–0
17 November 2000 Stadionul Astra 0–0
9 June 2001 Stadionul Ilie Oană 3–1
11 August 2001 1–0
16 March 2002 Stadionul Astra 2–1
24 September 2005 Stadionul Ilie Oană 4–2 Liga II
15 April 2006 Stadionul Astra 0–1
24 August 2008 Stadionul Ilie Oană 2–3
8 March 2009 Stadionul Astra 2–2
27 October 2011 1–0 Cupa României
5 November 2011 1–1 Liga I
6 May 2012 Stadionul Ilie Oană 3–1
10 November 2012 Stadionul Marin Anastasovici 1–1
18 May 2013 Stadionul Ilie Oană 1–1
25 August 2013 Stadionul Marin Anastasovici 1–2
16 March 2014 Stadionul Ilie Oană 1–1
26 March 2014 0–0 Cupa României
16 April 2014 Stadionul Marin Anastasovici 2–1
27 October 2014 0–0 Liga I
30 April 2015 Stadionul Ilie Oană 1–2
30 August 2015 Stadionul Ilie Oană 0–1
12 December 2015 Stadionul Marin Anastasovici 3–1
3 March 2021 Stadionul Ilie Oană 0–3 Cupa României
31 October 2021 Stadionul Marin Anastasovici 1–2 Liga II

Games involving second teams

  Petrolul Ploiești win   Draw   Astra Giurgiu 2 win

As of game played 10 April 2018[5]
Date Venue Score Competition
11 November 2017 Stadionul Ilie Oană 0–0 Liga III
18 May 2018 Stadionul Astra 2–2

Players with both sides

One of the most notable footballers to play for both sides is 2017 Romanian Footballer of the Year winner Constantin Budescu—he has appeared in more than 380 matches in all competitions for Petrolul and Astra combined, as of February 2021.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Astra - din 1921" [Astra - since 1921] (in Romanian). Ziarul Prahova. 1 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Istorie" [History] (in Romanian). FC Petrolul Ploiești. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "De Petrolul s-a ales praful" [Petrolul turned to dust] (in Romanian). ProSport. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Fanii Petrolului jigniţi dur de Ioan Niculae! Patronul Astrei se ia şi de clubul din Ploieşti: "Nu are nici un palmares"" [Petrolul's fans, insulted by Ioan Niculae! He also talks about the club from Ploiești]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 16 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Petrolul Ploiești vs Astra Head to Head". SoccerPunter. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
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