FK Csíkszereda said goodbye to their home crowd for 2025 with what was perhaps their weakest home performance of the season, so the two-goal defeat against long-time rivals FC Argeș does not feel undeserved.

FK Csíkszereda said goodbye to their home crowd for 2025 with what was perhaps their weakest home performance of the season, so the two-goal defeat against long-time rivals FC Argeș does not feel undeserved.

The red-and-blacks had four important absentees for this match: besides Pászka, sent off in Tuesday’s Cup match against Oțelul, the injured Jebari and Hegedűs were also unavailable, as well as Dolny, who has been out for weeks with a serious knee injury.

Of course, this alone does not explain Saturday’s display, in which the team failed to produce even a single shot on target, while both goals conceded came after major defensive errors. The visitors had the first chance in the 11th minute through Sierra’s 22-metre volley, which flew over the bar. Near the end of the first quarter of an hour, FK built one of their rare nice attacks of the evening, but the ball laid off by Eppel fell to Ferenczi, who shot wide. In the 25th minute, Rață’s header from around seven metres also missed the target.

In the 37th minute came the first major lapse: the left side of our defence opened up too easily, allowing Rață to cross, and Bettaieb’s volley flew into the net after deflecting off Veres’ back. The 42nd minute could have brought a decisive moment: Bakos was dispossessed right on the edge of the box, then a defender pulled Eppel down, but Petrescu considered neither situation enough for a penalty.

In the 57th minute, after losing the ball in midfield, Matos forced Pap into a save with a long-range effort. In the 72nd minute, following a left-side free-kick, Végh Bence could not bring the ball under control in the box to create danger. In the 75th minute came the next major error: Szabó lost possession in the opposition’s half, Matos sped down our right side and struck an unstoppable shot into the far corner: 0–2.

Although they had slightly more possession, nothing worked today for the red-and-blacks. To fittingly close the evening, in the final minutes Anderson lost the ball inside the box and then attempted a sliding challenge from behind, which resulted in a penalty. Caio took the spot-kick with one minute left of regular time, but Pap dived to save.

“Tonight we suffered a defeat that, looking at things clearly, we deserved. We faced a much more motivated and better-playing team, a valuable side with quality players – no wonder they are in the top half of the table. We must analyse what happened, as the opponents played in a way that practically didn’t allow us to create chances. They were stable, while we didn’t make good decisions, we couldn’t play balls in behind or deliver useful passes towards our forwards; it really was one of those days when nothing worked. Yes, we were missing four key players, but this defeat cannot be blamed solely on that,” head coach Róbert Ilyés said after the match.

After leaving the pitch – preceded by the team, despite the defeat, joining the supporters in singing the Székely Anthem – the players held a long and serious discussion in the dressing room. A restart is needed, as two very difficult matches await us this year, in Cluj and Craiova. After the short winter break will come the real decisive games: nothing is lost, as the season’s objective – staying in the top division – will have to be secured in the spring.

In round 20, we will play CFR away on Friday at 20:30.

Superliga, regular season, round 19
FK Csíkszereda–FC Argeș 0–2 (0–1)
Referees: Petrescu Radu Marian, Ghinguleac Radu Adrian, Voda Alexandru. Fourth official: Ene Mihai Laurențiu. VAR: Dumitrache Bogdan. AVAR:
Municipal Stadium, Miercurea Ciuc
Goals: Veres (37 – own goal), Matos (75)
Yellow cards: Anderson (67) / Sadriu (12), Borța (26), Oancea (62)

FK Csíkszereda: Pap Eduard Adrian – Bloj Erwin Szilárd, Palmeș Raul Ioan, Csürös Attila, Ferenczi János (Gál-Andrezly Peter 46) – Végh Bence, Veres Szilárd, Dusinszki Szabolcs (Szabó Bálint 59, Bakos Ervin 81), Anderson Ceará, Bakos Ervin Raul (Noveli Luca 46) – Eppel Márton (Szalay Szabolcs 76).
Head coach: Róbert Ilyés

FC Argeș: Lazar David Beniamin – Oancea Gabriel Dorinel, Tudose Mario Cristian, Sadriu Leard, Borța Florin Gheorghe – Sierra Roberto Manuel, Rață Vadim (Seto Takayuku 78), Pîrvu Yanis Christian Nikolas (Rădescu Laurențiu Ionuț 65) – Moldoveanu Robert Marian, Matos Ricardo Manuel Pinho (Ferreira Caio 78), Bettaieb Adel (Garutti Guilherme 90).
Head coach: Bogdan Ioan Andone

Rédai Attila
Photo: Pál Zoltán