Misfortune cast its shadow over FK Csíkszereda in the away match against Universitatea Cluj. The hosts settled the key issues in the first half, and we could only manage a consolation goal.
Misfortune cast its shadow over FK Csíkszereda in the away match against Universitatea Cluj. The hosts settled the key issues in the first half, and we could only manage a consolation goal.
We started the match well and created serious chances, but several debatable refereeing decisions and unfortunate situations were enough to destabilize us. Within fourteen minutes in the second third of the first half, we conceded four goals, leaving no chance to recover.
Saturday’s match marked the five hundredth appearance in the Superliga for the hosts’ veteran, Dan Nistor. A remarkable achievement, and on this occasion he received a commemorative shirt with the number five hundred not only from his own club but also from FK Csíkszereda, presented by manager Eugen Pîrvulescu before the kick off.
Omar El Sawy, a graduate of the Szeklerland Football Academy, started on the left wing for the home side. The first major opportunity also belonged to him, but his shot from eighteen meters at the near post went wide.
In the seventh minute, Trif broke through in a promising position and was stopped for a yellow card. From the resulting free kick, Kleinheisler delivered a cross and Eppel headed into the net, but the assistant referee signaled offside. After a lengthy review by the video assistant referee system, the original decision stood.
In the fifteenth minute, Kleinheisler struck the crossbar after a pass from Anderson, and moments later Eppel missed a clear one on one opportunity. A huge chance was wasted.
The hosts took the lead in the twenty fifth minute and went on to score four times before halftime, through Macalou, Drammeh twice, and Nistor, making the score four to zero at the break.
After halftime, head coach Róbert Ilyés made three substitutions and the team became more organized. In the seventy first minute, Bloj delivered a cross from the right and Eppel headed home to make it four to one.
We were later awarded a penalty for handball, but the shot went over the crossbar and the score remained unchanged.
Around forty dedicated supporters traveled to Cluj and supported the team until the final whistle, thanking the players with applause for their effort.
Head coach Róbert Ilyés stated after the match that it was a painful defeat, but Universitatea Cluj were the better side in every aspect. He emphasized that the home team played quality football and that we were only able to match their level in the second half. In the first half there was a short blackout period influenced by unfortunate moments, such as the disallowed goal for offside and the shot that hit the crossbar. After that collapse, the match was decided. At halftime he stood by the players and made three substitutions, already thinking about the upcoming match against Hermannstadt, which for us will be the decisive battle.
Our next Superliga match will take place on Monday, the twenty third of February, at seventeen o’clock, at home against one of our direct rivals, Hermannstadt.
Superliga, regular season, Round 27
Universitatea Cluj – FK Csíkszereda 4–1 (4–0)
Cluj Arena, approximately 4000 spectators
Referees: Mazilu Florin Ovidiu, Birdes Romica, Marin Nicușor.
Video assistant referee: Trandafir Cristina Mariana.
Assistant video assistant referee: Mazilu Florin Ovidiu.
Reserve referee: Gaitin Claudiu.
Scorers: Macalou (25), Drammeh (32, 39), Nistor (36), and Eppel (71).
Yellow cards: Cristea (7), Bic (46), and Bettini (14), Kabashi (31).
AS FC Universitatea Cluj: Gertmonas Edvinas – Mikanovic Dino (Chinteș Alin 57), Cristea Lucian Iulian (Capradossi Elio 57), Coubis Andrei, Chipciu Mihai Alexandru – Bic Ovidiu Alexandru (Simion Gabriel Bogdan 71), Drammeh Mouhamadou Basirou (Murgia Alessandro 71) – Nistor Dan Nicolae, El Sawy Omar, Macalou Issouf (Stanojev Jug 55) – Lukic Jovo.
Head coach: Cebotaru Eugeniu
FK Csíkszereda: Pap Eduard Adrian – Bettini Mariano (Bloj Erwin 46), Kabashi Arian (Palmeș Raul 46), Csürös Attila, Trif Răzvan Alin – Veres Szilárd, Kleinheisler László – Anderson Ceará (Szalay Szabolcs 61), Bödő Zoltán Efraim, Jebari Soufiane – Eppel Márton (Nagy Zoárd 72).
Head coach: Ilyés Róbert
Rédai Attila
