Politehnica Timișoara had already built a two-goal lead in Sunday’s Women’s Superliga clash, but Szeitl Szilvia’s side came back from the brink and eventually celebrated a liberating victory.
Politehnica Timișoara had already built a two-goal lead in Sunday’s Women’s Superliga clash, but Szeitl Szilvia’s side came back from the brink and eventually celebrated a liberating victory.
Our Women’s Superliga team has placed Miercurea Ciuc on the map of European football: by overturning a two-goal deficit against Politehnica Timișoara in the final home match of the season, we mathematically secured second place and qualification for European competition.
Yet the opening stages did not suggest a festive afternoon at the Burus Csaba Sport Park. The first dangerous opportunity belonged to us, but Bojenco denied Vădulescu, and at the other end Timișoara converted their first major chance: Ienovan broke through one-on-one and gave the visitors the lead.
FK gradually took control of possession, but Herczeg Andrea’s long-range efforts missed the target, while Porter’s dangerous strike was denied by the post. Then, late in the first half, another blow arrived: Rus Laura lofted the ball over Böröcz Bettina from almost forty metres to double the visitors’ advantage.
But the team – inspired as well by the passionate support of the Lokálpatrióták in the stands – found a way back before the break. Deep into stoppage time, Vădulescu Ana Maria found herself through on goal and fired into the near corner to keep our hopes alive.
FK returned for the second half with completely different energy. Several clear chances followed immediately, and after a handball led to a penalty, Herczeg Andrea converted confidently. Only minutes later the comeback was complete: Shala Jehona turned brilliantly and finished low into the bottom-right corner.
Even after taking the lead, we kept pushing. Shala had further opportunities, Herczeg struck the crossbar with a classy finish, and although there were nervous moments late on – with the defence once helping Böröcz out – it was Shala who had the final word, lifting the ball into the top-left corner from close range in stoppage time.
After the final whistle, celebrations erupted on the home side. Erika Geréd highlighted the value of the comeback:
“When the opponent is already two goals ahead, it’s very difficult to come back, but I feel we put so much work into this season that nobody gave up. We believed until the end that we could get back into the game.” She added that although the team had set higher targets at the beginning of the season, securing European qualification through second place is still a major achievement: “Of course there’s a sense that we could have achieved more, but this gives us some compensation.”
One of the main figures of the turnaround, two-goal scorer Shala Jehona, was emotional for reasons beyond the result:
“I’m very happy and very proud of this team. I feel we deserved more from this season, but reaching European competition is important confirmation for us.” She also spoke about her attachment to the club: “In Miercurea Ciuc I found my second family.”
Captain Herczeg Andrea felt the two-goal deficit never reflected the flow of the game, which made the comeback even more valuable:
“We dominated from the first minute, we just made the game difficult for ourselves. You could feel that if we kept working, the first goal would come and then we’d gain momentum.” According to the captain, the match revealed the team’s true character: “Not every team can come back from 0–2 and turn around a game like this. I’m very proud of the girls. And making history by qualifying for Europe for the first time makes it even more special.”
Head coach Szeitl Szilvia was still emotional after the match:
“It wasn’t an easy match and, honestly, I’m still emotionally inside it.” She felt the comeback showed the team’s strength not only tactically but also personally: “The fact that we could rise from that situation showed how much character, belief and resilience these players have.”
At the same time, she admitted there remains some disappointment when reflecting on the season as a whole:
“I’m very sorry we couldn’t win the league title or the cup because those were our goals all year. But second place should not be underestimated – it’s a huge achievement for the club, the players and the supporters. This was real teamwork.”
Women’s Superliga, Championship Round, Round 11
FK Csíkszereda – Politehnica Timișoara 4–2 (1–2)
Match officials: Ungureanu Diana Madalina, Martinescu Bogdan Mihai, Cighir David
Goals: Vădulescu Ana Maria (45+2), Herczeg Andrea (48’ – penalty), Shala Jehona (53’, 90+2’), respectively Ienovan (12’), Rus (40’)
Yellow cards: Nombot (90+5’), respectively Kurja (33’), Orlando Ștefan (head coach – 85’), Ienovan (87’)
FK Csíkszereda: Böröcz Bettina – Szabóvá Sofia (Shala Jehona 46’), Geréd Erika, Herczeg Andrea (Tóbik Melánia 90’), Kis Anita, Rosenblatt Hana My, Vădulescu Ana Maria (Tănase Dorina 90+3’), Antal Anita (Orbán Aranka 79’), Porter Lindsey Leigh, Fülöp Boglárka (Zvenyák Johanna Rita 79’), Nombot Annabelle Natsi.
Politehnica Timișoara: Bojenco Denisa – Cioablă Dana Maria (Noje Tania Teodora 68’), Corsei Bianca Andrada (Suba Alexia 83’), Ienovan Larisa Bianca, Şepeţan Andreea Dragana Daiana (Bucșa Ariana Ștefania 62’), Heisu Denisa Nicoleta (Dovîncescu Roxana Maria 62’), Kurja Nikoleta (capt.), Marin Ariana Ioana, Jivan Anda Gabriela, Rus Laura Roxana, Şodinca Melisa Sabrina.
Head coach: Orlando Ștefan
R. A.
Photo: Pál Zoltán