U Cluj – Csikzereda 4-1. Big points in the play-off battle in the Superliga

After a good start by the Hammers, the “red caps” scored 4 times before the break and settled the equation of the game in the first 45 minutes through Macalou, Nistor, Drammeh and Csuros' own goal. Cluj climbs to 4th place in the Superliga!

U Cluj solved the match in one half! Csikszereda started better but fell inexplicably

Csikszereda started the game at Cluj Arena without a hitch and dominated the start of the meeting. Robert Ilyeș's team managed to score in the 8th minute, through Marton Eppel. The top attack of the Hammers managed to score after a cross from a free kick. The Hammers' scheme was very good, but within inches the goal was disallowed for offside. The phase was quite confusing, and the VAR needed a good few minutes for a decision.

Ciucani continued their good start to the game and missed another huge opportunity in the 15th minute. Kleinheisler shot hard at goal, the shot was deflected and the ball hit Gertmonas' goal post. Afterwards, the ball bounced to Eppel, who dispatched a hard-to-watch shot, almost parallel to the goal.

After 20 very good minutes of the hammers, Ilyeș's team fell inexplicably.

Macalou started the festival of goals

In the 25th minute, U Cluj struck for the first time. The Red Caps scored through Macaulayextreme in great form at the moment. Macalou found himself with the ball at his feet, after a deflection by Coubiș, with a header, and showed inspiration, hitting directly at the crossbar. Macalou complained of muscle problems after the execution, but it turned out to be nothing serious.

In the 32nd minute, Drammeh shot on goal from the box after the ball trickled to his foot and Csuros put his foot down. The ball entered Pap's goal, and from this moment the hammers fell from a psychological point of view.

In just three minutes, Iulian Călin showed the point with lime after Kleinheisler entered Omar El Sawy in the box. The foul was not a hard one. Dan Nistorin the match with the number 500 in the Superliga, executed, and Pap objected. The ball also bounced to Nistor, who did not miss the second time.

Drammeh also scored before the break with a powerful shot from the center of the box. In the dressing room the scoreboard showed 4-0 for the “red caps”.

Ciucani managed to score in the second half! Kleinheisler made a laughingstock: penalty executed as in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament

In the second half, U Cluj played an economical game, protecting the result obtained until the break. He didn't make big problems at Pap's gate anymore, instead Gertmonas had work to do. In the 63rd minute, Eppel again missed alone with the U goalkeeper. After only 7 minutes, the top got revenge with a headed goal, after a good cross from Bloj.

In the 76th minute, the Ciucanians could reduce the difference after the “central” Iulian Călin showed the point with lime following a handball by Capradossi. Kleinheisler executed, but was laughed at. His shot went wide of Gertmonas' goal. The Ciucanians dominated the end of the game, but did not manage to create much danger.

With these three points, U Cluj climbed to 4th in the ranking and is much closer to achieving its goal: access to the play-offs. Csikszereda is still in 13th place, playoff spot.

Superliga standings

FINAL » U Cluj – Csikszereda 4-1

• Click HERE for details and statistics about this match

• Attendance: 3,355 spectators

• They scored: Macalou 25', Csuros 32' (own goal), D. Nistor 36', Drammeh 39' / Eppel 70'

• Min. 76: The Ciucanians received a penalty following a handball. Kleinheisler performed miserably over Gertmonas' goal

• Min. 70: Eppel managed to score from Bloj's cross. The top of the hammers headbutted Gertmonas

• Min. 63: Eppel misses a big chance for Csikszereda. Gertmonas intervened as a rescuer

• Start in the second half!

• Break in Cluj!

• Min. 39: Drammeh also gets his name on the scorers list. Dan Nistor served him perfectly in the center of the square, and Drammeh shot strongly, in the center of the goal.

• Min. 36: Dan Nistor initially missed, but the ball parried by Pap also bounced to the “red caps” midfielder, who eventually scored.

• Min. 35: Iulian Călin showed the point with lime after an intervention on Omar El Sawy. Dan Nistor executes the shot from 11 meters

• Min. 32: Own goal! Drammeh shot at goal and Csuros put his unfortunate foot and the ball went into Pap's goal

• Min. 25: U Cluj managed to score after the “red caps” were dominated by the Superliga. The goal came after a throw-in: the ball reached the box, was deflected by Coubiș, and then reached Macalou. The striker from U Cluj shot from the first, directly into the net. Macalou blamed muscle problems after the success

• Min. 15: Csikszereda missed another big chance: Kleinheisler fired hard at goal and the shot was deflected onto the crossbar. The ball bounced to Eppel, who shot miserably

• Min. 8: Eppel scored with a header after a perfect cross from a free kick. The Hammers striker appeared to be in an offside position. The phase was a complicated one, and after 4 minutes of VAR, the goal was cancelled

• Game start! Dan Nistor, the footballer from U Cluj, ticked off the #500 appearance in the Superliga. He received a special plaque and a t-shirt from each team.

U Cluj – Csikszereda, starting teams

U Cluj (4-1-2-3): Gertmonas – Mikanovic, I. Cristea, Coubiș, A. Chipciu – Bic – D. Nistor, Drammeh – Macalou, Lukic, El Sawy
Reserves: Lefter, Chinteș, J. Cisse, Codrea, B. Simion, A. Murgia, Stanojev, Fabry, Mendy, A. Gheorghiță, Postolachi
Coach: Eugeniu Cebotaru

Csikszereda (4-2-3-1): Pap – Bettini, Kabashi, Csuros, R. Trif – Vereș, Kleinheisler – Anderson Ceara, Jebari, E. Bodo – Eppel
Reserves: M. Simon, Bloj, Palmes, Hegedus, Gustavinho, Dusinszki, Loeper, Szalay, Bota, Noveli
Coach: Robert Ilyeș

Stadium: Cluj Arena (Cluj-Napoca)
Referee: Iulian Călin (Ștefăneşti)
ASSISTANT: Romică Bîrdeș (Pitesti) and Nicușor Marin (Suseni)
VAR referee: Cristina Trandafir (Bucharest)
Assistant VAR: Florin Mazilu (Satu Mare)