Our historic first match in the Superliga turned into quite an adventure, spiced up by fan clashes and a lighting system failure. But the most important thing is that we also claimed our first point in the top flight.

Our historic first match in the Superliga turned into quite an adventure, spiced up by fan clashes and a lighting system failure. But the most important thing is that we also claimed our first point in the top flight.

As expected, the stands of the Miercurea Ciuc municipal stadium were packed to the brim, with the “Local patriots” starting their drumming and chants almost an hour before kickoff. The visiting fans arrived late but wasted no time in chanting their usual anti-Hungarian slogans.

Perhaps out of frustration, since the match started like a dream for FK: in the 2nd minute we took the lead when Dolný’s long-range shot bounced off the post and, under pressure from Szabó Bálint, Sivis mishit the ball and pushed it into his own net: 1–0! VAR reviewed the play but found no offside or other infringements, confirming FK Csíkszereda’s first-ever top-flight goal.

And to make sure a homegrown player also featured among the historic scorers, Bödő Efraim stepped up: before the 10th minute, the Székely Land Football Academy graduate dribbled into the box past three stunned Bucharest defenders and blasted it mercilessly into the near corner: 2–0!

Who would have thought we’d start the Superliga like this — and yet! The joy was short-lived, though, as in the 16th minute Musi, left too free, headed home from about seven meters after a precise cross from the right: 2–1. In the 32nd minute Anderson tested Aliesei, and six minutes later Dolný’s shot went wide. With just two minutes left in the first half, Gnahore received the ball from Cîrjan, wrong-footed his defender and calmly placed it from about 18 meters into the left corner: 2–2.

During halftime, reports came in that the visiting supporters had left their sector and were causing trouble in the city.

In the second half, we focused mainly on defending. In the 52nd minute a long-range shot rebounded off Pap, but Cîrjan couldn’t capitalize from close range because Hegedűs made a heroic save. In the 61st minute the floodlights failed, halting play for 30 minutes — luckily the issue was fixed with generators and the match could continue.

In the 71st minute Abdallah’s long-range effort was neutralized by Pap, and seven minutes later the FK goalkeeper also saved Gnahore’s shot. From the ensuing counter-attack Babati almost caught Aliesei off guard from midfield, but it didn’t go in.

In the closing stages, the visitors kept pushing, but Pap was there again for Abdallah’s overhead kick and Caragea’s powerful 25-meter shot, which he tipped onto the crossbar. The last chance of the match fell to Jebari, who, in stoppage time, curled just wide of the left post from 22 meters.

It was already past midnight when the final whistle blew, sealing FK Csíkszereda’s first-ever point in the Romanian top flight. The referee put an end to the marathon match — at least regarding what happened on the pitch, as the incidents will likely have consequences later.

In Round 2, on July 21, Ilyés Róbert’s men will travel to Clinceni to face Unirea Slobozia.

FK Csíkszereda – Dinamo Bucharest 2–2 (2–2)
Csíkszereda, Municipal Stadium, 2,500 spectators
Referees: Vidivan Rareș George, Badea Marius, Filip Alexandru. Fourth official: Mazilu Florin Ovidiu
Goalscorers: Sivis (2’ – own goal), Bödő (10’) respectively Musi (16’), Gnahore (43’)
Yellow cards: Dolný (19’) respectively Pop (10’), Caragea (90’)
FK Csíkszereda: Pap Eduard – Kelemen Dávid, Hegedűs János, Palmeș Raul – Gál-Andrezly Peter (Bloj Erwin 89’), Végh Bence (Veres Szilárd 68’), Bödő Efraim, Ferenczi János – Anderson Ceara (Jebari Soufiane 60’), Szabó Bálint (Szalay Szabolcs 60’), Dolný Jozef (Babati Benjámin 60’).
Head coach: Ilyés Róbert
Dinamo: Aliesei Roșca Alexandru Vasile – Sivis Maxime James, Mărginean Iulius Andrei, Boateng Kennedy Kofi, Opruț Raul Marian – Kyriaku Charalampos (Milanov Georgi Venciszlavov 68’), Gnahore Vhakka Eddy Stelh, Cîrjan Cătălin Ionuț – Armstrong Daniel Charles (Abdallah Hakim Djamel 68’), Pop Alexandru Mihai Constantin (Karamoko Mamadou 59’), Musi Alexandru Marian (Caragea Andrea Iulian 82’).
Head coach: Kopic Zeljko