Four of our academy teams were in action on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our U16s defeated FC Bacău 3–1, while the U15s drew 2–2 against the same opponents. In Cluj, the U17s earned a point, while the U18s suffered defeat against CFR.
Four of our academy teams were in action on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our U16s defeated FC Bacău 3–1, while the U15s drew 2–2 against the same opponents. In Cluj, the U17s earned a point, while the U18s suffered defeat against CFR. After six rounds, our U18 and U16 sides lead their respective groups, the U17s sit second and the U15s are third.
U18
Noveli Luca scored our U18 team’s goal in the 11th minute away to CFR Cluj. Our side were reduced to ten men in the 23rd minute following the dismissal of Tóth-Pál Milán, and the hosts established the final score of 4–1 before half-time.
Despite the defeat, our team lead the Western Group standings with 12 points after six rounds. Second-placed Viitorul Cluj also have 12 points, but our side remain top thanks to their superior goal difference.
Youth League, regular season, Western Group, round 6
CFR Cluj–FK Csíkszereda 4–1 (4–1)
Our goalscorer: Noveli Luca (11).
Sent off: Tóth-Pál Milán (23).
CFR Cluj: Pușcaș Cătălin – Han Patrisio, Oroșfai Fabio, Avram David (c), Ilieș David (Ungureanu Gabriel, 58), Covaci Alexandru (Dan Casian, 78), Fistea Valentin (Găitan Alessio, 58), Bolbocă Andrei, Hoban Bogdan (Sâmpetreanu Tudor, 66), Cucoș Fabian (Roman Alex, 66), Mureșan Darius. On the bench: Ilaș Emanuel, Pintican Tudor, Bujilă Ionuț. Head coach: Dan Mugurel Mircea.
FK Csíkszereda: Györfi Krisztián – Miara Dominik, Kertész Márk, Vass Norbert, Máthé Apor (c), Noveli Luca (Baior Darius, 79), Tóth-Pál Milán, Cătrinoi Cornea (Ilyés Máté, 75), Bódi Lehel, Bíró Artur (Oșvat Darius, 1), Nyitra Szabolcs. On the bench: Marian Robert, Szakács Tamás, Orbán Márton. Head coach: Goran Kopunović.
Goran Kopunović congratulated the Cluj side, who, in his opinion, are a very good team and have several youth internationals in their squad. The head coach accepted responsibility for the defeat.
– I always tell the players that when we win, the success belongs to them: they are the ones who should celebrate and be happy. When we lose, however, I am responsible. This time, too, I accept responsibility one thousand per cent. There are no explanations and no excuses; we must find the solution – said Goran Kopunović.
According to the head coach, the most important thing now is for the players to recover quickly, as the team face another league match on Sunday.
– I feel very sorry for the players because the Wednesday–Sunday schedule places an extremely heavy workload and a great deal of pressure on them. They are only seventeen years old, and such a congested fixture list also makes their proper development more difficult. On Friday and Saturday, we will try to correct whatever we can, and then the next match is already upon us on Sunday – the head coach added.
U17
CFR Cluj took the lead against our U17 side as early as the second minute, but Keresztes Ákos equalised in the 35th. Neither team managed to score again in the second half, meaning our side returned home from Cluj with one point.
After six rounds, our U17 team sit second in the Western Group with 13 points. Third-placed Campionii FC Argeș and fourth-placed CFR Cluj also have 13 points, while leaders Viitorul Cluj have collected 15.
U17 Elite League, regular season, Western Group, round 6
CFR Cluj–FK Csíkszereda 1–1 (1–1)
Goalscorers: Puți Ianis (2), Keresztes Ákos (35).
CFR Cluj: Ilaș Emanuel – Lăpuște Luca, Lax Elyas, Ardelean Iustin, Boțoc Lucian (Toșa Mark, 85), Mare Tudor, Kovacs Patrick, Puți Ianis (c), Bene Paul (Seichei Tudor, 70), Haus Noah (Mureșan David, 79), Cipăian Dragoș (Timoficiuc Luca, 79). On the bench: Zamfir Patrik, Bucur Rareș, Iancu-Sălăjanu Luca, Costea Dragoș, Boțoc Laurențiu. Coach: Hoban Ovidiu Ștefan.
FK Csíkszereda: Kajtár András – Hella-Fehér Dániel, Keresztes Ákos, Fülöp Farkas, Klein Tizian, Fazakas Zalán (Szabó Örs, 56), Lukács Bence, Jánoska-Máthé Krisztián, Oniga Victor, Györfi Bence (c) (Ambrus Lukács, 86), Orbán Hunor (Jánosi Zsolt, 90+1). On the bench: Hegedüs Cristián, Nagy Imre, Déva Kristóf, Fazakas Gellért, Miklós Elemér. Head coach: Mitra Szilárd.
U16
Our U16 side took the lead against FC Bacău through Matei Darius’s 27th-minute goal. After the break, Șeitan-Pataki Dávid doubled the advantage before Forró Patrik made it 3–0 in the 79th minute. The visitors pulled one back late on through Arhip Matei.
Our U16 team remain unbeaten, having won five of their six matches and drawn once. Our side lead Group 1 with 16 points, two ahead of second-placed Sepsi OSK.
U16 Elite League, regular season, Group 1, round 6
FK Csíkszereda–FC Bacău 3–1 (1–0)
Goalscorers: Matei Darius (27), Șeitan-Pataki Dávid (54), Forró Patrik (79), Arhip Matei (82).
FK Csíkszereda: Bâlbâe Róbert – Kiss Hunor, Kósa Áron (c), Forró Patrik, Polgár József (Lukács Bence, 87), Șeitan-Pataki Dávid (Ferencz Kristóf, 87), Boér Szabolcs, Matei Darius (Debrenti Milán, 77), Szabó Ákos, Deák Kristóf (Sipos Tamás, 87), Székely Edmond (Murgui Mario, 62). On the bench: Parhon Luca, Bokor Kristóf. Head coach: Fogarasi Zoltán.
FC Bacău: Pătrășcan Andrei – Ungureanu Vlad (Șofronie Eduard, 67), Vasilca Șerban, Huhu Giorgio, Matei-Țurcanu Alexandru (c) (Petrov Lutianco, 69), Pană Flavius, Mândru Christian (Ianoș Alexandru, 67), Toader Dionisie (Proșie Andrei, 46), Pușlenghea Luca (Florea David, 46), Arhip Matei, Brașoveanu Patrick. On the bench: Iuganul Alexandru, Irimia Robert, Sohodoleanu Lisandru. Head coach: Șoimaru Tudorel Cristian.
Fogarasi Zoltán said his team had prepared thoroughly for the match against the Bacău side, as footage of their previous games suggested they would face well-drilled and technically accomplished opponents with a solid structure.
– We knew a strong team were coming to face us, but we were also aware that we might be slightly ahead in terms of individual ability. With that in mind, we put them under considerable pressure from the start and managed to take the lead. We had ten corners in the first half, while our opponents did not create a genuinely clear-cut chance – the head coach assessed.
Fogarasi regretted that despite their considerable territorial dominance and numerous corners, his side failed to create more dangerous opportunities in the first half. There were fewer chances after the break, but FK used them more efficiently.
– We began the second half with plenty of momentum as well. We may have had fewer chances than in the first half, but we scored further goals. Once we were 3–0 up, the team eased off slightly, a few players lost concentration and our opponents became more adventurous. It was therefore no surprise that they pulled one back, but our victory was never in danger – said Fogarasi Zoltán.
According to the head coach, the team’s record so far is convincing, but their attention has already turned to the remaining regular-season fixtures and preparations for the play-offs.
– We have five wins and one draw from six matches and we lead the table, so naturally I consider our run so far to be a good one. We want to continue this sequence in the upcoming matches and secure our place in the play-offs as soon as possible. Congratulations to the team! We dedicate this victory to our newly married colleagues, Bartis Szabolcs and Bartók Alpár, and wish them great happiness and a long life together – the head coach concluded.
U15
FC Bacău took the lead away to our U15 side in the 13th minute following a corner. Kozma Gergő equalised seven minutes later before Jánosi Hunor turned the match around in the 73rd minute. The visitors secured the final score of 2–2 late on through Stângă Emi.
After six rounds, our U15 side sit third in Group 1 with 13 points. Fourth-placed FC Bacău also have 13, while leaders ACS Juniorul 2014 and second-placed Sepsi OSK have both collected 16 points.
U15 Elite League, regular season, Group 1, round 6
FK Csíkszereda–FC Bacău 2–2 (1–1)
Goalscorers: Kozma Gergő (20), Jánosi Hunor (73), Lehăduș Liviu (13), Stângă Emi (79).
FK Csíkszereda: Géczi Mihály – Farkas Ábel, Lovas Bence, Jánosi Hunor, Becze Balázs, Sângerean Darius, Hajnal László, Törő Milán (Makkai Vince, 55), Gagiu Milán, Kozma Gergő (c), Bejinariu Lucas (Kocsis Attila, 62). On the bench: Benő Ádám, Páll Árpád, Bokor Kristóf, Bartis Balázs, Szővérfi Rajmond, Ilyés Gergő. Head coach: Burus Bernát.
FC Bacău: Apolozan Nicholas – Bîrleanu Matteo (Cociaș Alessio, 52), Lehăduș Liviu, Drănceanu Rayan, Palade Nicolas (c), Albu Matei, Hazu Luca, Scorțanu Luca, Matasaru Tudor (Grama Iacob, 46), Linguraru Nectarie (Stângă Emi, 46), Botoi David (Fecioru Riccardo, 61). On the bench: Păduraru Alexandru, Șandilă Eduard. Head coach: Andrieș Gheorghe.
Burus Bernát said the teams’ positions in the table meant the match could be regarded as a clash near the top, and the contest was evenly balanced overall.
– Our opponents scored following a set piece, which was particularly frustrating because we had spent a great deal of time practising how to defend corners on the day before the match. Despite that, we were not alert enough and failed to pick up our opponents properly, allowing the visitors to take the lead – the head coach assessed.
His side equalised seven minutes later and, in Burus’s view, FK controlled the game for much of the remaining time.
– We created several big chances. We hit the post, missed a clear opportunity with the goal empty and also had a chance where we struck the woodwork from in front of an open goal. We tried several long-range shots as well, but the opposing goalkeeper managed to save them – said Burus Bernát.
FK took the lead with seven minutes remaining but were unable to hold on to their advantage.
– Going 2–1 up made the players far too relaxed. Our play became rushed and we failed to maintain our concentration. In the 79th minute, our opponents capitalised on a childish mistake and equalised. We dropped two extremely important and valuable points, even though the pattern of the game suggested that we deserved to keep all three points at home – said the head coach.
Burus believes his team need to improve primarily in terms of mentality and concentration.
– We will keep working and do everything we can to eliminate these mistakes as quickly as possible. If we cannot remain focused for eighty, ninety or even one hundred minutes, right up until the referee’s final whistle, errors like these can occur at any time. We must learn from them so that we can take the next step forward as quickly as possible – Burus Bernát concluded.
R. A.