Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, October 27, 2025, 7:44 p.m. / Updated Monday, October 27, 2025, 7:44 p.m.
FC Botoșani, the surprise leader of the Superliga, continued their excellent run and beat Hermannstadt 2-0, in a match played on Sunday afternoon, in stage #14. The Moldovans cut the game from the first half, thanks to the successes signed by Mykola Kovtalyuk (30 years old) and Charles Petro (24 years old).
For the Siberians, it is a new defeat in an extremely complicated period – the 5th in the last 6 matches.
Merchant: “It's not by chance that I'm in first place”
At the end of the game, Cristian Neguț, the striker from Hermannstadt, recognized the superiority of the opponents, but sent a message of mobilization before the duel in the Romanian Cup:
“We started the game well, we had the first chance to score, then we conceded two easy goals. We have nothing to do, we have to keep our heads up. We have a cup game and we have to win for morale.
It is not by chance that Botoșani is in first place. We didn't play a bad game in the second half, but we suffer in finishing, we don't manage to put it in the goal. We have to do something and get out of this situation.”
Much harsher in his analysis was the midfielder Antoni Ivanov, who bluntly said that the blame for the poor form belongs exclusively to the players:
“I can't find my words after another defeat. Unfortunately, we don't show anything. The same mistakes, we try to correct them in training, but it's difficult. I try to keep a good spirit in the dressing room, but it's very difficult, believe me.
We are the same players from last year, we did good things, but now I don't understand why this is happening. We miss the goal. When you don't score, football overtakes you. They score at the first opportunity, we miss alone with the goalkeeper.
It's not bad luck, it's a matter of morals. We have to stand up. It's not another sport, but sometimes it's like we're playing something else.
I don't blame anyone, and I take responsibility. We, the players, are to blame, not the coach.”
Botoșani, solid leader before the duel with CFR
Thanks to this success, FC Botoșani remains in first place in the Superliga, continuing the impressive streak under the management of Bogdan Andone. The Moldovans will play a fiery match in the next stage, against CFR Cluj, away, while Hermannstadt tries to find its balance in the Romanian Cup.
