Our U15 team defeated LPS Buzău on penalties in the Elite Cup quarterfinals after a hard-fought match.

Our U15 team defeated LPS Buzău on penalties in the Elite Cup quarterfinals after a hard-fought match.

High tension, a last-action equaliser, red cards and a penalty shootout – Tuesday afternoon’s U15 clash had everything that makes football exciting, and the home side’s qualification crowned the spectacle. The Buzău team had already caused us problems twice in the league, so they arrived determined not to let us win this time either. To achieve this, they prepared a very efficient tactic, practically sending every recovered ball behind our defence in an attempt to launch their attackers.

This approach worked for them in the league, but this time the players of Zoltán Fogarasi were prepared for it. Even when they managed to get past our defence, goalkeeper Róbert Bâlbâe often stopped their counterattacks. Still, the visitors opened the scoring early in the second half through Stănescu, but Boér quickly responded. In the 58th minute, after a beautiful team move, substitute Debrenti fired a left-footed shot from 16 metres into the top corner (2–1).

After protests from the visiting coach, we played seven minutes with a numerical advantage towards the end of the match. However, before that temporary dismissal expired, Kristóf Deák received his second yellow card and was sent off. To make matters worse, we could not hold on to our lead until the final whistle: the visitors – who played the entire match without making a substitution – equalised with a long-range shot in the last attack of the game.

The regulations do not provide extra time at this stage, so the match went directly to penalties. Our goalkeeper Róbert Bâlbâe calmly saved two spot kicks, while FK’s players converted all their attempts, sending us into the semifinals alongside FCSB, Universitatea Craiova and UTA Arad. The semifinals are expected to be played on April 21.

Elite Cup U15 – Quarterfinal
FK Csíkszereda – LPS Balázs-Sőtér Jolán Buzău 2–2 (0–0), after penalties 6–3
Csíkszereda, Márton Áron High School artificial pitch

Referees: Vlădulescu Andreea-Violeta, Șchiopeț Claudiu, Cupu Raul George

Goals: Boér Szabolcs (46), Debrenti Milán (58), respectively Stănescu Robert Andrei (42) and Cercel Dumitru (80+3)

Red card: Kristóf Deák (67)

FK Csíkszereda: Róbert Bâlbâe – Máté Krisztián Levente Jánoska, Edmond Székely, Dárius Cornel Matei, Hunor Orbán, Hunor Kiss, Szabolcs Boér, Áron Kósa (c), Ákos Keresztes, Ákos Szabó, Patrik Forró.
Substitutes: Kristóf Déva (GK), Péter József Egyed, Gergő Kozma, József Polgár, Milán Debrenti, Tamás Sipos, Mario Nicolas Murgui, Kristóf Deák, Olivér Boga.
Head coach: Zoltán Fogarasi

LPS Buzău: Cristian Florin Dinu – Robert Andrei Stănescu, Lucas Florin Enache, Darius Mădălin Neagu, Rareș Ioan Stancu, Dumitru Cercel, Eduard Mihai Andrei (c), Rareș Adrian Pintilie, Andrei Liviu Ghiță, Ionuț Vlăduț Morteci, Andrei Teodor Ene.
Head coach: Sorin Macaia

R. A.
Photo: Zoltán Pál