U Cluj beat FCSB 1-0 as Jovo Lukic scores in the 76th minute

Lukic's goal decides a tight match

Universitatea Cluj beat FCSB 1-0 on Monday evening, 2 November, at Cluj Arena in the last match of round 14 of the Superliga. Jovo Lukic scored in the 76th minute, after goalkeeper Ștefan Târnovanu had first parried the Bosnian's header from a cross by Issouf Macalou. Referees checked the goal with VAR for about four minutes over a possible foul in the build-up before allowing it. It was Universitatea Cluj's first home win over FCSB in four years and their second straight Superliga win over them. The result lifted the hosts to fourth place with 25 points.

Late chances and the attacking record

Macalou had a shot from an angle in the 85th minute, which Târnovanu saved. FCSB pushed for an equaliser at the end, and Denis Drăguș struck the crossbar in the 90th minute plus two. Universitatea Cluj have scored 26 goals in 14 rounds, the third most in the Superliga after Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo.

Bergodi on the win and on Lukic

Coach Cristiano Bergodi said the side had gone through a harder spell, losing three matches in a row, before this run of three wins, one of them in the Cup. He credited the players' reaction and the daily work at training.

“Now is our chance, our moment.”

Bergodi praised Lukic as a professional who also provides goal passes. He said it would be hard for any Romanian club, Cluj included, to keep a player of that calibre, and that it was unclear whether the striker would leave in winter or next summer.

“I hope he does not leave in the winter.”

The next match is against Csikszereda, who are bottom of the table and coached by Valentin Suciu, whom Bergodi knows from their time together at Sepsi.

FCSB's reaction: referee and squad

Gigi Becali lashed out at referee Iulian Călin after the match, questioning his handling of the game and several decisions, including a yellow card shown to Muhar. He said the referee had added only five minutes of time. Becali told PrimaSport that FCSB needs four players: a right back to replace Crețu, a defensive midfielder, a striker and a number 10. He said Aymen Boutoutaou had disappointed him, and that the squad had played well overall. Adrian Mutu, speaking on Digi Sport's Fotbal Club programme, criticised Laurențiu Reghecampf's comments about the referee and said Reghecampf should look at his own tactics.

“He lost a match and already he's started with the referees.”

Gloria Bistrița loses on the green table

The Romanian Football Federation's disciplinary commission published its decision on Monday on the FRF website. CS Gloria Bistrița was given a 0-3 forfeit against SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea in round nine of Liga II, plus a 3,200 lei fine, for breaching FRF rules on Under-21 players. Gloria had won the match 1-0 on the pitch. After the decision, CS Afumați rose to 12th with 17 points, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea moved up to 13th with 17, and Gloria dropped to 14th with 15.

Earlier in the Romanian Cup, Gloria beat FCSB 1-0 in Group C at home. Antonio Bradu scored in the 23rd minute after a mix-up between defender Dylan Batubinsika and goalkeeper Matei Popa. In that group, FC Bihor lead with 4 points, while FCSB, Csikszereda and Gloria are on 3 points each.