We drew with a team from the Europa League group stage – FK Csíkszereda played a 1–1 draw with Romanian champions FCSB, in a match in which victory was also possible.
We drew with a team from the Europa League group stage – FK Csíkszereda played a 1–1 draw with Romanian champions FCSB, in a match in which victory was also possible.
Róbert Ilyés’s team is increasingly rising to the level of the Superliga, and the improvement in performance already noticeable in recent matches was confirmed on Sunday evening by keeping the champions in check and collecting points for the second match in a row.
In front of the stands of the Municipal Stadium in Miercurea Ciuc, packed to the brim, the teams started cautiously, and we had to wait until the 16th minute for the first more dangerous chance, when Bîrligea from the visitors tried to score past Pap from 18 meters, but our goalkeeper, having a very good day, with several brilliant saves, kept the team in the match on Sunday, giving the chance of a good result. This was the case, for example, in the 31st minute, when he was able to block with his foot against Olaru’s penetration, then a minute later he tipped another shot from Olaru over the crossbar, and in the 41st minute he also saved spectacularly against Bîrligea’s header – it was no coincidence that the editors of the TV broadcast chose him as man of the match.
In the second half the game became more balanced, Végh’s long-range attempt went over the bar right at the start of the period, then Anderson also tested Târnovanu. Yet it was us who conceded a goal: from a corner for the visitors, Végh lost his man, Edjouma, who had come on at half-time, and he headed home from close range, from the middle.
Three minutes later, at Anderson’s long-range bomb, Târnovanu had to make a great save, then the Brazilian also created a chance for Dolny on the right in the 66th minute, but the Slovak striker just missed the cross. We did not give up the fight, we continued to put the FCSB defense under pressure, and in the 81st minute it paid off: Anderson’s low corner from the right was redirected toward the goal with his thigh by Bakos, and although we celebrated him at the stadium as the scorer, the goal was eventually officially recorded as an own goal by Pantea.
After that, the team from the capital tried to attack, but FK was closer to winning all three points: in the 83rd minute Dusinszki came on, making his debut for us, and two minutes before the end of normal time, the victory was at his feet – from about 11 meters, calmly preparing, our new signing could even pick out the corner, but Târnovanu, with a huge dive, finally saved a point for FCSB.
Nevertheless, we cannot be dissatisfied with the point obtained, and accordingly our head coach, Róbert Ilyés, evaluated at the press conference after the match: “Tonight’s game went according to the preliminary analysis, we mapped the opponent’s strengths, we managed to impose our high pressing on them, we did not allow them to hold the ball much. Therefore, they played with many long balls, and when they still managed to hold the ball, we were able to defend compactly against them, leaving them little space, which is encouraging for us. We were a disciplined, good team tonight, overall I am satisfied with the result.”
Thanks to the draw we collected our third point in the league, and thus avoided slipping back to last place, after Metaloglobus also drew 1–1 in this round with CFR Cluj, collecting their own second point. In the next round we will host the “metal globes” team, also at the Municipal Stadium, with the match taking place on Monday, September 22, at 18:00.
Superliga, regular season, round 9
FK Csíkszereda–FCSB 1–1 (0–0)
Miercurea Ciuc, Municipal Stadium, 2150 spectators
Referees: Călin Iulian, Neacșu George Florin, Vătămanu Cosmin. Fourth official: Rusandu Lucian Claudiu.
Goals: Pantea (81 – own goal) respectively Edjouma (55)
Yellow card: Végh (21) respectively Alhassan (57)
FK Csíkszereda: Pap Eduard – Bloj Erwin (Szalay Szabolcs 83), Hegedűs János, Palmeș Raul, Pászka Lóránd – Végh Bence (Dusinszki Szabolcs 83), Veres Szilárd, Anderson Ceara, Bakos Ervin (Gergely Alpár 90), Szabó Bálint (Jebari Soufiane 67) – Dolny Jozef (Eppel Márton 67).
Head coach: Róbert Ilyés
FCSB: Târnovanu Ștefan – Graovac Daniel, Bîrligea George Daniel, Tănase Florin Lucian (Chiricheș Vlad 69), Miculescu David Raul (Thiam Mamadou 46) – Lixandru Mihai Daniel, Cercel Ionuț Darius (Toma Mihai Vlăduț 46), Olaru Darius Dimitru (Malcom Edjouma 46), Pantea Grigoraș Alexandru – Cisotti Juri (Popescu George 79), Alhassan Baba.
Head coach: Charalambus Elias.
Attila Rédai
Photo: Zoltán Pál