In a dramatic battle, playing almost an entire half with one man down and even saving a penalty, our U15 team managed to keep the points at home against FC Bacău.

In a dramatic battle, playing almost an entire half with one man down and even saving a penalty, our U15 team managed to keep the points at home against FC Bacău.

The game seemed easy at the start: Polgár scored in the very first minute with our first attack, and in the 7th minute Matei doubled our lead straight from a corner. Towards the end of the first half, however, the visitors started to create more chances, and in the 36th minute Arhip volleyed home from close range after a corner delivery: 2–1. Still, before the break we restored our two-goal advantage, in the 38th minute creating a clear chance inside the box which Matei converted, netting his second of the match.

Early in the second half we made things harder for ourselves, as our goalkeeper Déva tried unsuccessfully to stop a Bacău player breaking free on a solo run outside the box, receiving a deserved red card. Substitute keeper Bâlbâe entered immediately and made a brilliant save from the resulting free kick.

Despite being a man down, for most of the remaining time we gave the visitors few opportunities, while threatening on the counter ourselves. Yet in stoppage time, Bacău struck again through Arhip, heading in from about 11 meters. And it wasn’t over: in the very last play of the match, the referee awarded the visitors a penalty, giving them the chance to equalize. Chircă stepped up and blasted the ball high and central, but Bâlbâe, diving and reaching back with his hand, clawed it out from under the crossbar, instantly becoming the hero of the game.

Elite League U15, regular season, Round 2
FK Csíkszereda – FC Bacău 3–2 (3–1)
Referees: Bíró Zsolt (Beiuș), Florescu Valentin (Sfântu Gheorghe), Ungvári Levente (Hidveg)
Scorers: Polgár József (1), Matei Darius (7, 38) / Arhip (36), Vasilică (80+1)
Yellow cards: Forró (78), Orbán (79), Bâlbâe (after the final whistle) / Ghircă (36), Roman (78), Arhip (79)
Red card: Déva (44)

FK Csíkszereda: Déva Kristóf – Jánoska Máthé Krisztián Levente, Székely Edmond, Orbán Hunor, Kósa Áron, Kiss Hunor, Polgár József, Szőke Attila, Matei Darius, Forró Patrik, Szabó Ákos. Substitutes: Bâlbâe Robert – Egyed Péter József, Deák Kristóf, Szilágyi Örs, Lukács Bence Balázs, Miklós Attila Márk, Kelemen Ákos, Sipos Tamás, Zöldi-Berge Márk. Head coach: Fogarasi Zoltán

Bacău: Vartolomei Dima – Mândru Christian A., Ungureanu Vlad Gh., Arhip Matei A., Ario Radu M., Chircă Eduard M., Huhu Giorgio E., Roman David A., Grigore David A., Pană Flavius A., Hantăr Luca N. Substitutes: Prosie Andrei L., Vasilca Șerban N., Bucur Darius A., Pușlenghea Luca A., Deju Eduard C., Ghenuche Rareș I., Petrov Liutienco L. Head coach: Pintilie Claudiu Mihai

R. A.
Photo: Pál Zoltán