The Primvs derby, also known as Unicul derby (English: The One derby), is a footballderby match between Romanian clubsRapid București and Petrolul Ploiești. It is called Primvs derby because one of the earliest rivalries in Romanian football was between Petrolul's predecessor Juventus București and CFR București (the original name of Rapid București), a rivalry which dates back to the interwar period.[1]
This intense inter-city rivalry occurs at least twice a year through league fixtures and it has extended to the Romanian Cup as well. The history of both clubs is intertwined as they have alternated between competing for top honors during their peak periods and facing challenges like bankruptcy or relegation to the Second Division during their lows. Both have also fought one another to earn promotion back to the First Division in efforts to reclaim their status as leading clubs.
History
Historical Context and Evolution
Neacşu (Juventus) battling for the ball against Georgescu (CFR) in a match from 25 May 1935 won by The Railwaymen with 4-3
Petrolul Ploiești was established in 1924 in Bucharest as Juventus, following the merger of Triumf and Romcomit, and played their home games at Romcomit Stadium.[2]Rapid București, originally known as CFR București, was founded in 1923 by employees of the Grivița workshops.[3] The two teams first faced each other on November 1, 1931, in the Bucharest regional championship, with the match ending in a 3-3 draw.
After World War II, both teams underwent several name changes due to the rise of the communist regime in Romania. Juventus, which became Flacăra București, was relocated 60 km north to Ploiești in 1952.[2] In November 1957, Rapid București reverted to its current traditional name,[3] and in December 1958, the Ploiești-based club adopted the name Petrolul.[2]
Championship Clashes of the 1960s
One of the most notable chapters in the Rapid vs. Petrolul rivalry occurred during the championship battles of the 1960s. In the 1965-1966 season, both clubs were at their zenith, vying for the Romanian championship. Under the guidance of coach Constantin Cernăianu, Petrolul Ploiești emerged victorious, securing their last league title by finishing ahead of Rapid București, who placed second. A pivotal moment of that season was Petrolul's 1-0 home win against Rapid, with Virgil Dridea scoring directly from a corner kick, a goal that played a decisive role in their title run.[4]
Rapid exacted revenge the following season, securing their first championship after a crucial 0-0 draw against Petrolul in Ploiești, thanks to a stalwart performance led by goalkeeper Rică Răducanu.[5] This memorable match is also noted for the large contingent of Rapid supporters, including the famous folk singer Ioana Radu, who traveled to Ploiești and upheld their promise to walk back to Bucharest if their team triumphed.[5]
Relegations, Promotions and a Dream Final
In the 1973-1974 season, both Rapid București and Petrolul Ploiești faced setbacks, being relegated to the second tier. From 1978 to 1982, they competed in the same division, with the 1981-1982 season being particularly fierce and exciting. During this period, the first place alternated between these two stalwarts of Romanian football. A crucial match saw Petrolul win 1-0 at home against Rapid, thanks to a 78th-minute goal from midfielder Ion Ștefănescu, putting them 2 points ahead at the top of the table.The climax of this rivalry occurred in the spring of 1982 at Stadionul Steaua, in front of 35,000 spectators, with only five games remaining in the season. Rapid triumphed with a decisive 5-1 victory.[6] Despite this, Petrolul ultimately won the league, finishing 2 points ahead and securing promotion to the First Division.
A clash between Constantinovici of Rapid and Leahu of Petrolul during the 1995 Romanian Cup final
Another landmark match between the two teams is the final of the Romanian Cup in 1995, at the end of which Petrolul won the second cup in their history, after defeating Rapid on penalty kicks. It was a controversial final which fueled the rivalry for years to come. Petrolul took the lead in the 82nd minute with a goal from Andreicuț, only for Iulian Chiriță to equalize for Rapid five minutes later. Chiriță's goal was controversial, as he appeared to be clearly offside, but the assistant referee, Zoltan Erdey, did not call it. Rumors circulated that referees, possibly influenced by illicit connections with then-club president George Copos, were favoring Rapid, but these allegations were never proven and have since become part of football folklore among fans.[7]
A Tale of Two Clubs: Success and Struggles in the 2000s and the Revival
The early 2000s saw both teams in first league, until Petrolul's relegation at the end of the 2003-2004 season. The first decade of the 2000s marked one of the most successful periods in Rapid's history. Rapid clinched their third title in the 2002-2003 season, along with three Romanian Cups (2002, 2006, 2007), three Romanian Supercups (2002, 2003, 2007), and reached the UEFA Cup quarterfinals. During this time, matches between Petrolul and Rapid were largely one-sided, favoring the Bucharest club. Petrolul, on the other hand, spent seven years struggling in the Second Division. After earning promotion in 2011, they experienced modest success, notably winning their fourth cup in 2013 by defeating CFR Cluj 1-0 in the final. Nonetheless, the period following this achievement was marked by severe financial troubles for both clubs. These financial issues culminated in both Petrolul and Rapid declaring bankruptcy in the summer of 2016, seemingly bringing an end to their 80-year rivalry.[8][9]
However, both teams managed to re-form and recover. By October 2019, more than four years after their last match, they met again in the second league, with Rapid securing a 1-0 victory.[10] Rapid returned to Liga I in 2021, followed by Petrolul a year later, reigniting their historic rivalry at the top level of Romanian football.
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