Radio Romania International Sports Club

The latest from football

Florin Orban, 18.05.2022, 13:45

CFR Cluj football team have yet again emerged as Romania’s
title holders, One round ahead of the end of the ongoing football season, head-coach
Dan Petrescu’s trainees are four points clear of the main runner-up team, FCSB.
At this stage of the championship, no other team can outclass CFR Cluj. This
past Sunday, on the National Arena in Bucharest, FCSB were held to a 2-all draw
by FC Voluntari; the result was a real setback for FCSB. As for CFR Cluj, this
past Sunday they won their home game against Universitatea Craiova, 2-1. For
CFR Cluj, this is the eighth champion title in the club’s history and the fifth
consecutive title. CFR’s most recent feat has booked them the ticket for the Champions
League preliminaries. FCSB has in turn gained
access to Europe’s Conference League qualifiers. According to the Professional
Football League’s regulations, in their bid to gain access to the Conference League,
3rd placed team Universitatea Craiova play the winner of the match
pitting 1st against 2nd-placed team according to the
domestic championship’s Group 1. They are Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe and FC Botoșani,
respectively. If, on Thursday, Sepsi win the Romanian Cup final against FC Voluntari,
they will play straight in Conference League. With no further formalities, Universitatea
Craiova travel to FC Botoșani. But until then, there is still a round to go in
Group 2. On Friday, Craiova play a home game against Farul Constanta. On
Sunday, FCSB play CFR Cluj, in Buzau. This coming Monday, in Pitesti, the local
team FC Arges play a home game against FC Voluntari.

Earlier this week the domestic championship’s Group 2
stage came to an end. League One’s 16th and 15th placed teams, Gaz
Metan Mediaș and Academica Clinceni, respectively, have been relegated to League
Two. Top-of-the-table and second-placed second-tier teams, Petrolul Ploiești and
FC Hermannstadt, respectively, have gained their access to League One’s next
season and on Wednesday they are to play a playoff fixture, decisive for them to
maintain their League One position. The team from Bucharest face League Two’s 3rd
placed team, Universitatea Cluj, while Chindia Targoviste take on 5th-placed team Concordia Chiajna. Chindia Targvoste should have played 4th-placed
team CSA Steaua, but the team from Bucharest, belonging to the Army, cannot officially
promote to League One as they do not have the professional status required by
the law.

(EN)