Andrei Prepelita was asked to “resign” from the stands

On the other side, the people from Ialomi are ticking off their 12th failure in the last 13 stages, with the exception of the success with Metaloglobus at the end of 2025. After 24 stages, the two are involved in the fight in the “red zone” of the hierarchy: Hermannstadt, in 15th place, has 17 points, while the people from Ialomi have a dowry of 21 points, being in 13th.

Espinoza, with a “doppietta”, managed the goals of Andrei Prepelita's team, who was asked to resign from the stands today, while Chițu and Afalna scored for Hermannstadt, the author of a “double” as well, even against the former team.

Chronicle by Cezar Titor » Show in the “red zone” of the Superliga

Unexpectedly, Saturday's opening of the Super League offered a true football royal at the “1 Mai” Stadium in Sloboziaat Unirea – Hermannstadt. The strange, atypical arena in the heart of the Romanian Plain, witnessing only the second match in its history on the first stage, was the scene of a game that did honor to the competition.

After a hesitant debut, in which the two formations groped rather cautiously, the hosts struck without warning. Alex Albu sent an ideal deep pass to Renato Espinoza, who, left alone with Căbuz, coolly finished to open the scoring.

The reaction of the Sibiu, seriously pressured by the situation in the ranking, but it was a fitting one, devastating! Three goals in just seven minutes, a real offensive whirlwind!

First, the “prodigal son” Christ Afalna, apostrophized by Ialomi fans since the presentation of the teams, charged his former formation.

The 29th minute: Neguț crosses at the second post, Chițu hits the post, and Afalna is on the move and pushes the ball into the nearby “strings”.

The 33rd minute: Kevin Ciubotaru delivers a sharp cross from the flank, and Chițu completes it impeccably, from the return, with an execution of a thoroughbred striker, leaving Denis Rusu speechless.

The 36th minute: Chițu continues his recital, engages Afalna elegantly, and he signs the “doppietta” with a fall finish, to the delight of the Siberian bench.

At that moment, “Harry Potter” Andrei Prepelita seemed like a wizard without a wand, the confidence of the stands in the “Hogwarts” of Ialomița completely evaporated. The fans started chanting “resign”, in sweet classic style.

The second half started offensively also with Hermannstadtteam without victory in the championship since September 21, with important opportunities missed by Neguț and Florescu.

However, Slobozia was the one who reduced the difference, through the same Renato Espinozaafter an excellent cross by Şerbănica and a missed takeover by Dahan, which facilitated the decisive execution.

Until the end, Sibiu was excellent defensively, and Dorinel Munteanu obtained his first success as a technician for Hermannstadt. In Slobozia, troubled times are announced.

Unirea Slobozia – Hermannstadt 2-3

• Minute 55: GOAL Unirea Slobozia! Şerbănica crosses, Dahan misses the takeover, and Espinoza scores from the edge of the small box, and the Ialomists return to the game.

• Minute 36: GOAL Hermannstadt! What a crazy deployment! Afalna succeeds in the “doppietta”, from six meters, after an excellent pass by Chițu.

• The 33rd minute: GOAL Hermannstadt! Superb match at the “1 Mai” Stadium. Kevin Ciubotaru crosses in the center of the box, Chițu completes like a real striker, from the return.

• 29th minute: GOAL Hermannstadt! Enter Christ Afalna, the former player of Ialomița, apostrophized throughout the game. Neguț crosses at the second bar, Chițu sends it into the bar, and Afalna, despite Safronov's opposition, scores with an empty net, from a few meters.

• Minute 12: GOAL Unirea Slobozia! Albu found Renato Espinoza excellently, who, alone with the goalkeeper Căbuz, scored without emotions.

• In the second game in history played at League 1 level in Slobozia, around 1500 supporters assist from the stands.

• HERE, the most important details and statistics about the match.

Unirea Slobozia – Hermannstadt, starting teams:

Unirea Slobozia (4-3-3): Rusu – Dorobanțu, Safronov, Antoche, Tsoungui – Albu, Lungu, Papeau – Bărbut, Espinosa, Dragu
Reserves: Popa – Ibrian, Orozco, Dinu, Şerbănica, Toma, Lemnaru, Pop, Deaconu, Vlăsceanu, Dulcea, Dahan
Coach: Andrei Quail

Hermannstadt (4-3-3): Cabuz – Stancu, Capușa, Issah, Ciubotaru – Florescu, Ivanov, Dr. Albu – Chițu, Afalna, Neguț
Reserves: Mutiu – Pop, Bârstan, Bejan, Oroian, Ritivoi, Jair, Buș, Gjorgjievski, Zargay, Simba
Coach: Dorinel Munteanu

Referee: Marcel Birsan
Assistants: Traian Neacșu and Cosmin Vatamanu
VAR referee: Sorin Costreie
Assistant VAR: Anthony Andrei
Book: Viorel Flueran
Game observer: Mircea Călin
Observer referees: Corneliu Fecioru

The union of Slobozia and Hermannstadt, in search of the first victory of 2026

2026 did not start well for the two teams that will play in the Super League play-out. Unirea Slobozia played for the first time in history in the Superliga at the “1 Mai” stadium on January 17, but UTA spoiled their celebration and beat them 3-1.

Later, he went to U Cluj's field and conceded at the limit, score 0-1. Before the stage, the people from Ialomi are in 12th place, the first above the playoffs, with 21 points after 23 stages.

On the other side, under the command of Dorinel Munteanu, Hermannstadt kept Farul la Ovidiu in check, score 1-1, and was close to producing a surprise with Dinamo as well. It finally succumbed to Sibiu, score 1-2. He was in 15th place before the stage, with 14 points.

In the round, the band coached by Andrei Prepelita won away, score 2-0. The first goal was then scored by Christ Afalna, a striker transferred by the Sibiu this winter.

VIDEO | Dorinel Munteanu, statements before Unirea Slobozia – Hermannstadt

“As in every game we want the maximum, everything we do during the 90 minutes in Slobozia is very important, it is a very difficult game for us, a game of six points.

It is a game in which I have high hopes that our team will come out of this crisis of results, partly in the other games I was satisfied with the game, but against Unirii I need concentration and maximum performance from the players“, declared Dorinel Munteanu, at the press conference.

I don't think traveling for a year hurt them, but helped them, the fact that they escaped relegation away is a positive thing for them.

Playing at home, they will probably have the support of the fans, we have to take into account any adversity, any condition and we have to get a point or points.

– Dorinel MunteanuHermannstadt's coach

VIDEO | Jean Vlădoiu, the official coach of Unirii Slobozia, statements before the game with Hermannstadt

“We know we need points. We have a week with 3 games that we were trying to get the most out of.

We had everything we needed this week, we also benefited from the new field, we managed with the training, so the boys are 100 prepared for this match”, declared Jean Vlădoiu, at the press conference.

Unirea Slobozia – Hermannstadt, the most interesting information, filtered by GSP statistician Liviu Manolache:

• December 20, 2025, Metaloglobus – Unirea 2-3 was the only victory achieved by the Ialomi people in the last 13 stages, during which they recorded one draw and 11 defeats.

• The Sibians haven't won in the Super League since September 21, 2025, when they won 2-1 on the field of Rapid. Four draws and nine losses followed.

• 10 of the 22 goals scored by Unirea were achieved after fixed phases.

• FC Hermannstadt is the team with the fewest committed fouls, only 226 (Unirea – 281).

• The group from Slobozia is the formation with the most local players used in the first 23 rounds, 21 out of 32 footballers with minutes being Romanian.

• Transylvania relied on 28 players, of which Dragoș Albu, Aurelian Chițu and Sergiu Buș ticked presence in each stage.

• Unirea and FC Hermannstadt have met in the main domestic competition only four times, each with one win, and two other games ended in a draw.

• Most recent direct Superliga match: 15 September 2025, FC Hermannstadt-Unirea 0-2, goals scored by Christ Afalna and Renato Espinosa.

Superliga standings: