An eight-minute collapse sealed our fate in the opening round of the SuperLiga, as we began the new season with a three-goal defeat against newly promoted Corvinul Hunedoara.

An eight-minute collapse sealed our fate in the opening round of the SuperLiga, as we began the new season with a three-goal defeat against newly promoted Corvinul Hunedoara.

Corvinul returned to the top flight after a 34-year absence but were unable to celebrate the occasion in Hunedoara, the match was therefore played in Arad, where several thousand enthusiastic Corvinul supporters gathered to witness their team’s return. Around two dozen loyal FK fans also made themselves heard throughout the match, backing our team, who played in their black away kit.

The hosts created the first major opportunity in the 11th minute. A cross from the right found Pîrvulescu in front of goal, but Pap Eduard produced a superb save to keep out his close-range header – his first outstanding stop of the new league season. Fabry then tried his luck from distance in the 20th minute, sending the ball narrowly wide.

In the 35th minute, Sandu’s poor clearance fell straight to Anderson Ceará. Our Brazilian player aimed a low shot towards the near post, but the goalkeeper got down in time to make the save. Six minutes later, Pîrvulescu collected the ball following a mistake by our team and struck the crossbar with a left-footed effort from 21 metres. The sides consequently went into the break with the score still goalless.

Pîrvulescu threatened again shortly after the restart. In the 49th minute, he broke into the penalty area before losing his balance and firing wide from 14 metres. Four minutes later, a quick FK counterattack ended with Anderson Ceará releasing Trif Răzvan down the left. Trif directed a low shot towards the far corner, but Sandu was able to save.

In the 56th minute, Bödő Zoltán Efraim was waiting for the ball inside the penalty area when Yeboah stepped in front of him and kicked him. Referee Marcel Bîrsan awarded a penalty, which Fabry confidently converted.

Our game unravelled after the opening goal. In the 62nd minute, Pîrvulescu was left unmarked to meet a cross from the right and fire into the left side of the net. Three minutes later, Ribeiro curled a free kick from a tight angle on the left directly inside the near post. Three goals in eight minutes effectively decided the contest.

Our team nevertheless created several opportunities to pull one back. Csürös Attila headed over from four metres in the 68th minute, before Eppel Márton broke clear ten minutes later and managed to shoot past Ilie towards the far corner, only for Sandu to save. One minute later, Eppel met Trif’s cross with a close-range header, but failed to make clean contact and another promising opportunity went begging.

Pap Eduard was called upon again in the 86th minute to prevent the hosts from extending their lead. Trif then had one final chance to score in the first minute of stoppage time, but the result remained unchanged. We therefore began the 2026–27 SuperLiga season with a three-goal defeat.

After the match, head coach Szabó István made no excuses and acknowledged that Corvinul had been the better side.

“We began the first half like a team attending its first ball. Unfortunately, we made many technical errors, played nervously, and only luck and our goalkeeper prevented us from conceding. One positive moment came at 0–0, when a fine combination created a very good chance for Trif. Unfortunately, that unlucky penalty followed, and we did not react well to falling one goal behind. Corvinul then made sure of their victory,” the head coach said.

Szabó added that he could point to the limited time available to implement his playing system and footballing philosophy, but he did not believe that was the reason for the defeat.

“I felt that our opponents wanted success more than we did. We now have to examine why that was the case,” said our head coach, who congratulated Corvinul on their fully deserved victory.

In the second round, FK Csíkszereda will host FCSB. According to the latest schedule, the match will kick off at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday.

Superliga, regular season, Round 1
Corvinul Hunedoara–FK Csíkszereda 3–0 (0–0)
Arad, Francisc Neuman Stadium, approximately 3,000 spectators
20 July 2026, 6.30 p.m.

Referee: Marcel Bîrsan
Assistant referees: Cosmin Vătămănu, Ionuț Traian Neacșu
Fourth official: Claudiu Găițin
VAR: Ionuț Coza
AVAR: Valentin Porumbel

Goalscorers: Fabry (58, penalty), Pîrvulescu (62), Ribeiro (65).

Corvinul: Sandu Codruț Viorel – Neacșa Ionuț Alexandru (c), Manolache Ștefăniță Antoniu (Abualnadi Mohammad Majed, 83), Ilie Florin Ionuț, Iacob Flavius – Hora Ribeiro Sergio Miguel (Goodlad Gideon Uche, 83), Cărăruș Ion – Pîrvulescu Nicolae Daniel, Yeboah Emmanuel (Bratu George Mario, 61), Fabry Andrej (Deaconu Octavian, 72) – Gillard Angel Nahuel (Espinosa Torres Renato, 72). Head coach: Maxim Florin Sandu.

FK Csíkszereda: Pap Eduard – Pászka Lóránd, Hegedűs János, Palmes Raul, Trif Răzvan – Veres Szilárd (c), Bödő Zoltán Efraim (Bota Darius, 66) – Anderson Ceará (Stahl Albert, 89), Magyar Zsolt (Tajti Mátyás, 60), Szalay Szabolcs (Csürös Attila, 66) – Eppel Márton (Dolný Jozef, 89). Head coach: Szabó István.

Rédai Attila