In a gripping Liga I encounter on Saturday afternoon at Stadionul Municipal, Csikszereda overcame Universitatea Cluj 2-1, seizing their first win of the campaign in front of an electrified home crowd. The hosts dominated for much of the contest before resisting a late Cluj onslaught, punctuated by a stoppage-time strike that ultimately proved too little, too late for the visitors.

Early Momentum and Key First Half Moments

Csikszereda, lining up in a 4-2-3-1 under coach Robert Ilyeş, established their intent early. The breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute, as Szabolcs Szalay ghosted into the area to finish off an inch-perfect cross from Anderson Ceará, sending the home stands into jubilation and giving the Szeklers a deserved 1-0 lead.

Universitatea Cluj, operating in a 4-1-3-2, struggled to engineer clear-cut chances against a disciplined Csikszereda backline. Their frustration was evident as Omar El Sawy went into the referee’s book in the 41st minute for a late challenge, capping a physical first half that left Cluj searching for answers.

Second Half Surge and Game-Defining Moments

Any hopes of a second-half turnaround for Cluj were dashed almost immediately after the restart. Just one minute into the second half, Jozef Dolný doubled Csikszereda’s advantage, finishing a fluid move orchestrated by Szilard Veres, who provided the decisive assist. The goal gave the hosts a commanding 2-0 cushion and forced Cluj coach Ioan Ovidiu Sabău into a raft of changes.

The visitors rallied, pushing numbers forward. Jonathan Cissé thought he had sparked a dramatic comeback in the 84th minute, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside following a lengthy consultation with the linesman—a decision met with fierce protests from the Cluj bench.

Late Drama and Consolation

With Csikszereda defending desperately, Cluj finally breached the wall deep into stoppage time. Virgiliu Postolachi latched onto Andrej Fábry’s clever pass in the 94th minute, slotting home to halve the deficit. But the final whistle blew before they could fashion an equalizer, sealing a memorable win for the home side.

Broader Implications

This result deals a significant blow to Universitatea Cluj’s push for the upper echelons of the Liga I table, while Csikszereda’s morale-boosting victory will buoy their hopes of climbing out of the relegation zone. The game’s energy, decisive finishing, and defensive heroics also provided a showcase for the fervor and unpredictability of Romanian football.

For extended highlights and post-match analysis, verified recap videos can be found on major Romanian sports YouTube channels with substantial followings, ensuring authentic coverage and avoiding unofficial or simulated content. (Specific YouTube video citations not included as the provided search results do not list channels, per requirements.)