CFR Cluj is in the play-off! Transylvania won with Farul, the 10th consecutive victory in the Superliga » There is only one place left available in the top 6!

CFR Cluj prevailed against those from Constanța Lighthouse, on the shores of the Black Sea, score 2-1, thanks to the successes of Aliev and Muhar. Isfan scored a magnificent goal for the Dobrogeans. Thanks to this result, the “railwaymen” are mathematically in the play-offs, with one stage left to play until the end of the regular season.

There is only one position left available for a ranking in the top six at the end of the regular season, which can be occupied by FC Argeș, FCSB or UTA Arad. Important: It is the tenth consecutive victory of Daniel Pancu's team in the Superliga!

Chronicle by Cezar Titor, from Constanța » TGV, not CFR: “Feroviarii” reach ten consecutive victories in the Superliga and go to the play-offs

On the last day of winter, when the sea still bites the shore with cold teeth, the Lighthouse gathers its sailors on deck as if for a last vigil. The play-off went like a ship lost in the fog, and the “sailors” remain with the compass of honor and the need for points, before the “storms” in the play-out.

On the other hand, from Transylvania you can hear the heavy rumble of steel wheels. CFR Cluj comes like a night train that doesn't stop at the stops, with thick steam and headlights on for the play-offs. “Pancone” performs miracles in Gruia: 9 consecutive victories in the championship, a course unanticipated even by the most optimistic white-cherries.

And when the tracks get close to the coast, a show comes out. In the past, titles were decided in the games between Farul and CFR Cluj in the square near the Siutghiol lake. While there's no trophy on the sidelines today, the stakes remain just as high between the province's most successful teams in the 21st century.

CFR, a lesson in pragmatism. The lighthouse, little to nothing

Farul entered the field with “all sails up”, and the first twitch of the game belonged to the “sailors”: Ișfan scored his first opportunity, just a few tens of seconds after the starting whistle. The game then settled down in a confused register, with possession slightly tilted towards the students of Ianis Zicu, but pragmatism was on the side of the CFR.

In the 16th minute, Andrei Cordea delivered an excellent pass to Alibek Aliev, inside the box, and he struck first in the “duel” of the attackers of the same name with a precise, right-footed shot to the left corner of the goal defended by Rafael Munteanu. No reply for the young goalkeeper of Dobrogen: 1-0 for CFR Cluj.

At 11 minutes away, the “railwaymen” increased their advantage. Karlo Muhar scored from a difficult angle, after another textbook pass signed by Cordea, the man who orchestrated the Transylvanian offensive on the Coast. In the 31st minute, Cordea was one step away from making the score 3-0, with a dashing shot from the edge of the box, sent to the far corner.

Until the end of the half, the Constantinians attacked Mihai Popa's Sisyphean goal, without the possession of the white-blues materializing in any goal chance. Grosso modo, a slow pace, without much spectacularity, but this was to the benefit of the Transylvanians, who were 45 minutes away from the play-off, a goal they didn't even dare to talk about at the beginning of “Pancone's” tenure.

The Transylvanians were content to protect the three play-off points

The second half began in the same register, with Farul continuously attacking. In the 64th minute, the confrontation was thrown into the air. After Ramalho's insistence, Ișfan reaches the finishing position, from the edge of the box, and the farista reduced the difference with a super execution, directly to the net. Popa tried in vain to reach the ball: 1-2 and what a final match awaits us!

Isfan's goal was like the madeleine moment in Marcel Proust's novel “In search of lost time”: a sudden reminder of a talent that seemed lost. At the beginning of his career, he was one of the most promising players of his generation, decisive and full of confidence.

He got lost along the way, but he seems to have found his rhythm again under the baton of Gică Hagi, who revived so many players, this fact is also supported by today's magnificent execution.

After the goal, CFR was afraid of 2-2, and the Transylvanian game was reminiscent of the “catenaccio” put into practice by Dan Petrescu during the hegemony between 2018 and 2022. We recorded a notable chance in the 78th minute, when Cristi Ganea's shot from outside the box narrowly missed the target.

CFR took the lateral and back passes to paroxysm, with almost zero offensive intent. Almost, because Keita's shot in the 88th minute had an interesting trajectory, but went over the goal. It ended 2-1 for CFR Cluj: X victories in a row and a play-off for Pancu and his team, impressive!

FINAL » Farul – CFR Cluj 1-2

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

• 2,866 spectators watch the match at the stadium, official number.

• Daniel Pancu saw the yellow card, following a nervous reaction to the referee. He will be suspended against Dinamo, in the last match of the regular season. The coach poured out his nerves on Cristian Panin, the official who tried to calm him down.

• They scored: Isfan (65) / Aliev (16), Muhar (27)

Min. 65: Alexandru Ișfan reduced the disadvantage with a superb goal. The ball had been rejected by Camora, it reached the striker of the hosts, and he sent it unstoppably to the far corner.

Min. 40: Denis Alibec was injured and left the field. He went straight to the locker room. Răzvan Tănasă took his place. Although he was extremely calm on the sidelines, greeting the entire bench, but also the club's press officer, the footballer kicked the locker room door hard at the time of the change.

Min. 33: Racist chants from the hosts' lawn directed at those from CFR Cluj.

Min. 27: CFR makes 2-0. Muhar deflects the ball perfectly and sends it into the net. Another assist for Cordea.

Min. 16: Aliev opened the scoring with a powerful shot sent to the far corner from inside the box. Cordea decidedly cared for him.

Farul – CFR Cluj, starting teams:

lighthouse: R. Munteanu – D. Sîrbu, Larie, Marins, Pellegrini – Grigoryan, Ramalho, Dican, C. Ganea – Alibec, Ișfan
reserves: Buzbuchi, Maftei, Ș. Duțu, Tîru, Fotin, Banu, Radaslavescu, Goncear, Tanasă, Vojtus, Doicaru, C. Sima
Coach: Ianis Zicu

CFR Cluj: M. Popa – Kun, Sinyan, M. Ilie, Camora – Muhar, T. Keita, Păun – Cordea, Aliev, Korenica
reserves: Valceanu, Gal, Abeid, Braun, Huja, Perianu, Fică, Deac, Gligor, Biliboc, Zahovic, Slimani
Coach: Daniel Pancu

Referee: Florin Andrei
ASSISTANT: Adrian Vornicu and Alexandru Vodă
VAR referee: Ionuț Coza
Assistant VAR: Sebastian Gheorghe
Book: Vlad Baban
Referee observeri: Liviu Ciubotariu

UPDATE. 19:10: Nocturna is working again

The problems were resolved after about 30 minutes and the match will be played under normal conditions, in the absence of any other unforeseen events.

UPDATE. 18:45: Night has fallen before the Lighthouse – CFR Cluj

The power went out in Constanța more than an hour before the start. Only the billboards remained functional. Two night posts light up easily, but the match cannot start under these conditions.

The emergency generator started, but only two lighting poles are in operation, not even at full capacity, at this moment, the ones flanking the Second Tribune. On the other side of the stadium, not even a light bulb was on.

This is how the situation is now. Little by little, the two poles that started a few tens of seconds after the blackout enter the parameters. The other two pillars also work in emergency mode, but the light is diffused, with very dark areas of land.

UPDATE. 18:35: The lighthouse reached the stadium first

Those from Farul arrived at the stadium first. The people of Constanta traveled a distance of about 100 meters, the team's training camp being right in the same yard.

UPDATE: 18:10: Moment of silence before Farul – CFR Cluj

Before the start, a moment of silence will be held in memory of Ilhan Mustafa. Right back in one of the most beautiful teams in the history of Farul, ranked 4th in the 1973-1974 edition, Ilhan Mustafa made his debut in the blue-white shirt in 1970, and then played again for Farul in the period 1974-1981. He would declare: “it was the most beautiful time of my life.”

He passed away on Wednesday, February 25, at the age of 73.

UPDATE. 17:50: The field is damaged before the Lighthouse – CFR Cluj

The wind blows strongly in Constanța two hours before the start of the match. The terrain is not in the best condition. An attendance of approximately 3,500 supporters is expected. At the moment, there is peace and quiet in Ovidiu.