Farul Constanța could not secure a win in the play-out in Miercurea Ciuc either, remaining without all three points for the second time within two weeks. FK Csíkszereda rescued a draw thanks to a “super goal” scored by Szalay in stoppage time.

Farul Constanța could not secure a win in the play-out in Miercurea Ciuc either, remaining without all three points for the second time within two weeks. FK Csíkszereda rescued a draw thanks to a “super goal” scored by Szalay in stoppage time.

Before the match, festive moments took place on the pitch of the Municipal Stadium: Szondy Zoltán, president of FK Csíkszereda and the Székelyföld Football Academy, honored the female players who have represented Romania’s national teams in different age categories this year: from the U15 team Zvenyák Johanna and Pap-Ieney Ingrid Alexandra, from the U17 squad Heim Sára and Nombot Annabell, from the U19 side Szőke Eszter, Balog Boglárka and Fülöp Boglárka, from the U23 national team Mitri Rita and Orbán Aranka, as well as senior internationals Herczeg Andrea, Antal Anita, Kis Anita and Vlădulescu Ana Maria, together with the team manager of the Romanian U17 and U19 national teams, Balázs-Urkon Emőke.

The match brought a balanced contest, with both teams enjoying their own strong periods. In the first half, FK created the more dangerous chances: Pászka and Kleinheisler both attempted shots from distance, with the latter’s powerful effort being pushed out for a corner by Munteanu. One of the most beautiful attacking moves came from a Kleinheisler–Anderson combination, at the end of which Anderson delivered a cross that the visitors could only clear at the very last moment.

Farul posed their main threat through counterattacks, and in one such situation Tănase found himself one-on-one with Pap, but Anderson tracked back superbly and made a crucial tackle. Despite FK’s territorial advantage and another attempt from Pászka, no goals were scored before halftime.

At the beginning of the second half, the home side remained the more active team: Kleinheisler set up Anderson, who struck a powerful shot from 15 meters, but Munteanu produced a brilliant save, and he also denied Bödő shortly afterward. At the other end, Rădăslăvescu and Ganea created danger, and in a clear-cut chance for Ganea, Palmeș made an excellent block. In the 79th minute, a huge chance was missed when, following Tajti’s cross, Eppel headed the ball from close range, but Munteanu tipped it over the crossbar.

As the match approached its closing stages, FK were increasingly pushed back into their own half, with Farul intensifying the pressure. This paid off in the 85th minute, when after a cross from Maftei, Doicaru finished from close range to give the visitors the lead (0–1).

However, the home team did not collapse, and the substitutions injected new energy into their play. Tajti tried his luck from distance early in stoppage time, and then in the 94th minute came the dramatic equalizer: Szalay Szabolcs controlled the ball with an acrobatic touch before striking it powerfully into the net, sending the stadium into raptures (1–1).

At the post-match press conference, Bajkó Barna, standing in for the suspended Ilyés Róbert, evaluated the game:
“Looking back, this can be considered a positive result. We earned a very valuable point that could count for a lot at the end. We showed great character, managed to come back from a deficit, and functioned as a team the way we expect to. We believe football rewards those who fight like this, and now it did so through a moment of brilliance from Szalay. We definitely did not deserve to lose, as we created more and bigger chances. From the spectators’ point of view, I think it was an entertaining match. We would once again like to thank our fans for turning out in such great numbers and supporting the team. If we continue to stay united like this, we will be able to achieve our goals, which at this moment means securing our place in the SuperLiga without having to play a relegation play-off.”

The SuperLiga will take a break for one weekend due to international fixtures. Our next match will be played on April 6, Easter Monday, when we will face Petrolul Ploiești away from home starting at 17:30.

SuperLiga, play-out, Round 2
FK Csíkszereda – Farul Constanța 1–1
Miercurea Ciuc, Municipal Stadium, approx. 1,100 spectators

Referees: Vidican Rareș George, Tunyogi Ferencz, Corb Ioan Alexandru
VAR: Costreie Sorin, AVAR: Porumbel Valentin
Fourth official: Timiș Roxana

Goals: Szalay (90+4), respectively Doicaru (85)
Yellow cards: Szalay (90+4) / Ramalho (42), Ișfan (53), Ianis Zicu (61), Doicaru (90+4)

FK Csíkszereda:
Pap Eduard Adrian – Pászka Lóránd, Hegedűs János Krisztián, Palmeș Raul Ioan, Trif Răzvan Alin – Végh Bence (Szalay Szabolcs 90+3), Csürös Attila (Dusinszki Szabolcs 87), Anderson Ceará (Cabral Gustavo 68), Kleinheisler László (Tajti Mátyás 68), Bödő Zoltán Efraim – Eppel Márton (Nagy Zoárd 87)
Head coach: Bajkó Barna

FCV Farul Constanța:
Munteanu Rafael Ștefan – Maftei David Iulian, Larie Ionuț Justinian, Gustavo Henrique Marins Silva, Furtado Pereira Steve José – Dican Victor Robert, Sá Ramalho Diogo (Rădăslăvescu Eduard Gabriel 47), Ganea Cristian George (Vînă Ionuț Daniel 66) – Grigoryan Narek (Duțu Alexandru Ștefan 90), Tănase Răzvan Andrei (Țîru Bogdan Ionuț 90), Ișfan Mihai Alexandru (Doicaru Albert Iustin)
Head coach: Ianis Zicu