Sports weekend

The latest news from football.

Florin Orban, 26.08.2022, 13:45

Two Romanian clubs have qualified for the group
stage of the European competition Conference League. On Thursday, CFR Cluj and
FCSB both won their play-off matches, while Universitatea Craiova missed their
qualification in a dramatic match.

FCSB travelled to Norway having lost at home
1-2 to Viking Stavanger. Away, however, FCSM put on a determined play and luck
was on their side. Viking’s goal-keeper Patrik Gunnarsson made some mistakes,
which cost his team dearly. FCSB scored first 3 minutes into the match, thanks
to a header from Malcom Edjouma after a pass from Florinel Coman. Viking’s Zlatko
Tripic scored the equalising goal on minute 26 from a penalty shot after the
Romanian goal-keeper tackled Daniel Karlsbakk. 10 minutes into the second half,
Andrei Cordea scored for 2-1 for FCSB, and Risto Radunovic scored the final
goal of the match following a penalty kick in the fourth minute of extra time,
the final score 3-1. This is the first time since 2017 that FCSB reach the
group stage of a European competition.

In Cluj, CFR received the Slovenian side NK
Maribor, having drawn nil-all in their away match. CFR missed many
opportunities to score, but the Slovenian side were equally dangerous. It
wasn’t until minute 90 that CFR managed to score, with their defender Lovro
Cvek achieving a spectacular overhead. This is the fourth time that CFR have
reached the group stage of a European competition.

Universitatea Craiova failed to qualify for the
Conference League groups. After a 1-all draw against the Israeli side Hapoel Be’er
Sheva in the first leg, Craiova’s Ante Roguljic opened the score in extra time
on minute 105, but Hapoel’s Tomer Hemed equalised one minute later. Hapoel eventually
won the match in the penalty shoot-outs 4-3, after two misses from Craiova’s Andrei
Ivan and Nicuşor Bancu.

The 7th leg of the Romanian
Superleague is taking place this weekend. After FC Voluntari vs. Universitatea
Cluj and UTA vs. FCU Craiova on Friday, Petrolul Ploieşti are playing Mioveni, and
Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe are playing Rapid Bucharest on Saturday. Three matches
are scheduled for Sunday: FC Argeş vs. Chindia Târgovişte, CFR Cluj vs. Farul
Constanţa and FCSB vs. Hermannstadt. The final match of the leg will be held on
Monday, with Universitatea Craiova playing FC Botoşani. Farul and Rapid are in the lead in the
standings with 12 points each, followed by FC Botoşani with 11 points.