Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, the trophy holder, won the Romanian Football Cup, after defeating Cluj University with a score of 5-4, in the penalty shootout, on Wednesday evening, in the final held at the Municipal Stadium in Sibiu.
Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe thus wins the Romanian Cup trophy for the second time in a row.
The score was equal, 0-0, both after 90 minutes and after extra time.
The hero of the Covas residents was the goalkeeper Roland Niczuly, a former player of Cluj University, who defended three shots from 11 meters, after Cluj had the advantage and missed two chances to get the victory, writes Agerpres.
Roland Varga, Alexandru Tudorie, Ion Gheorghe, Marius Ştefănescu and Mark Tamas scored for Sepsi OSK, while Jonathan Rodriguez and Adnan Aganovic missed. Alexandru Chipciu, Ovidiu Bic, Dragoş Tescan and Dan Nistor converted for “U”, those who missed were Ely Fernandes, Jose Gomes and Ivan Martic.
Sepsi OSK won the trophy for the second time in a row (2022, 2023), the team from Sfântu Gheorghe having also lost a final (2020).
The university has held the trophy since 1965, losing its fifth final (1934, 1942, 1949, 2015, 2023).
Sepsi OSK started the final better and had the first chances to score, but Ciobotariu (6) sent a header from 5 meters wide of the goal, and Rondon (13) resumed over the target.
“U” took control of the game and came close to opening the score several times. In min. 22, Remacle fought in the box, and then Nistor failed to shoot at the goal from the box. Thiam (25) had an excellent shot at the long corner from the left side, but Niczuly deflected onto the bar. Shortly after, Filip (26) shot from the return, but Niczuly defended. Thiam shot from the edge of the box past the goal (29), after which Nistor hit the crossbar with a shot from the right side (33).
The first half ended with a return shot by the Slovakian Safranko (45+1), but Gorcea was at the post.
In min. 52, the same Safranko restarted with his head following a corner, but Gorcea retained the ball in extremis, at which point the players from Sepsi accused that the ball would have crossed the goal line.
“U” was quite active in the second half as well, but the goal phases were quite rare.
In extra time, Tudorie headed over the goal again (96), Tescan was also close to the goal (102), on the counterattack, but Niczuly stood out again. Bic (109) tried his shot from distance, but Niczuly was at the post.
The end of the game was quite animated, but Gorcea rejected Varga’s shot from a free kick (116), and Pițian missed the winning goal (118), failing to recover a cross that passed in front of the goal.
Through the successful victory at the 85th edition of the Romanian Cup, Sepsi OSK ensured its presence in the next season of the Europa Conference League.
The victory of the team coached by Cristiano Bergodi in Sibiu will make CFR Cluj or Universitatea Craiova miss the next season of European cups. The occupier of the third place in the play-off will play a play-off for the Europa Conference League with the winner between FC U Craiova and FC Voluntari. CFR Cluj (3rd place) will play in the last stage of the play-off at home with the champion Farul, and Universitatea Craiova (4th) will receive the visit of the Sepsi OSK team.
Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, who also won the Romanian Supercup in 2022, will fight again for this trophy on July 8, in Ploiesti, against the champions Farul Constanţa.
Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe – Universitatea Cluj 0-0, after extra time; 5-4, on penalties
They executed the penalty kicks in order: Roland Varga 1-0 (goal), Alexandru Chipciu 1-1 (goal), Jonathan Rodriguez 1-1 (miss – Andrei Gorcea defended), Ovidiu Bic 1-2 (goal), Alexandru Tudorie 2-2 (goal), Dragoş Tescan 2-3 (goal), Ion Gheorghe 3-3 (goal), Ely Fernandes 3-3 (miss – saved by Roland Niczuly), Marius Ştefănescu 4-3 (goal), Dan Nistor 4-4 (goal), Adnan Aganovic 4-4 (miss – over the goal), Jose Gomes 4-4 (miss – saved by Roland Niczuly), Mark Tamas 5-4 (goal), Ivan Martic 5-4 (miss – defended Roland Niczuly).
Sibiu, Municipal Stadium: 13,800 spectators
Romanian Cup – final
The teams have evolved:
Sepsi OSK: 33. Roland Niczuly (captain) – 44. Mihai Bălaşa (4. Mark Tamas, 86), 45. Denis Ciobotariu (88. Radoslav Dimitrov, 86), 82. Branislav Ninaj, 20. Andres Dumitrescu – 13. Cosmin Matei (8. Ion Gheorghe, 75), 6. Nicolae Păun (97. Roland Varga, 112), 5. Jonathan Rodriguez, 11. Marius Ştefănescu – 99. Mario Rondon (77. Adnan Aganovic, 46), 18. Pavol Safranko (9. Alexandru Tudorie, 75). Coach: Cristiano Bergodi.
Unused reserves: 12. Răzvan Began – 22. Francisco Santos Junior, 27. Rareş Ispas.
Cluj University: 33. Andrei Gorcea – 71. Ivan Martic, 6. Andrei Miron, 17. Andrei Piţian, 27. Alexandru Chipciu (captain) – 98. Gabriel Simion – 19. Dan Nistor, 8. Martin Remacle (11. Dragoş Tescan , 100), 16. Ioan Filip (21. Jose Gomes, 80), 94. Ovidiu Bic – 93. Mamadou Thiam (70. Ely Fernandes, 100). Coach: Ioan Ovidiu Sabău.
Unused reserves: 23. Plamen Iliev – 7. Ianis Stoica, 18. Florin Ilie, 22. Ivan Goranov, 26. Dorinel Oancea, 52. Romario Pires.
Referee: Cătălin Popa (Pitesti); assistant referees: Daniel Mitruţi (Craiova), Bogdan Gheorghe (Bucharest); fourth official: Iulian Dima (Bucharest)
Video referee: Istvan Kovacs (Carei); video assistant referee: Andrei Florin Chivulete (Bucharest)
Observers: Aron Huzu (Sibiu) – CCA, Octavian Goga (Braşov) – FRF
Yellow cards: Martic (23), Ştefănescu (45), Niczuly (90+4), Dumitrescu (92), Bergodi (120).
Editor : I.C
