Universitatea Cluj 2:1 FC Botosani: Liga I Match Result

Match report

Universitatea Cluj and Botoșani met in the third round of Ligi I on 3 August, with the hosts claiming a 2-1 victory at home. The match opened cautiously before Botoșani took the lead just before the break. Cluj responded in the second half to turn the game around.

The visitors struck first through A. Dumiter in the 38th minute, catching Cluj off guard. E. Papa had already picked up a yellow card for Botoșani by then, adding a layer of tension. Cluj made a change at the restart, bringing on M. Drammeh to shift their approach. By the time the whistle blew, the visitors held a narrow advantage.

And here's the thing about penalties — they change everything in a game. A. Aliev converted from the spot in the 50th minute to level the score at 1-1. He was then substituted in the 74th minute, the same minute O. Mendy scored the winner.

Cluj dominated possession with 58 per cent, though they only converted six of their shots on target. Botoșani had fewer chances but still managed four shots on target from ten attempts. The hosts created five big chances compared to four for the visitors, yet the efficiency gap was clear. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging for the visitors.

The three points move Cluj closer to safety in 14th, while Botoșani stay seventh with 10 points from eight games. The hosts have dropped points in four of their seven outings, but this result suggests they can find consistency. Botoșani have drawn four times already, which shows they're hard to beat but struggle to win.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 58.00 – 42

Shots on target 6 – 4

Shots off target 5 – 6

Big chances 5 – 4

🟨 29' E. Papa — Yellow card ⚽ 38' A. Dumiter — Goal 🟨 40' D. Codrea — Yellow card ⇄ 46' M. Drammeh — Substitution ⚽ 50' A. Aliev — Penalty 🟨 55' B. J. Bayeye — Yellow card ⇄ 70' Z. Mitrov — Substitution 🟨 71' P. Pinho — Yellow card ⚽ 74' O. Mendy — Goal ⇄ 74' A. Aliev — Substitution ⇄ 76' E. Papa — Substitution ⇄ 87' A. Dumiter — Substitution 🟨 90+2' A. Chipciu — Yellow card ⇄ 90+4' J. Stanojev — Substitution

Match events

29' 0:0 FC Botosani Yellow card E. Papa
38' 0:1 FC Botosani Goal A. Dumiter assist: H. Ongenda
40' 0:1 Universitatea Cluj Yellow card D. Codrea
46' 0:1 Universitatea Cluj Substitution M. Drammeh off: P. Pinho
50' 1:1 Universitatea Cluj Penalty A. Aliev
55' 1:1 FC Botosani Yellow card B. J. Bayeye
70' 1:1 FC Botosani Substitution Z. Mitrov off: S. Bodisteanu
71' 1:1 Universitatea Cluj Yellow card P. Pinho
74' 2:1 Universitatea Cluj Goal O. Mendy assist: A. Aliev
74' 2:1 Universitatea Cluj Substitution A. Aliev off: A. Trica
76' 2:1 FC Botosani Substitution E. Papa off: J. Markovic
87' 2:1 FC Botosani Substitution A. Dumiter off: G. Sorodoc
90+2' 2:1 Universitatea Cluj Yellow card A. Chipciu
90+4' 2:1 Universitatea Cluj Substitution J. Stanojev off: A. Chintes

Statistics

58.00 Possession, % 42

6 Shots on target 4

5 Shots off target 6

5 Big chances 4

113 Attacks 69

7 Corners 2

13 Fouls 11

9 Free kicks 12

0 Offsides 1

3 Yellow cards 2

0 Red cards 0

9 Goal kicks 10

19 Throw-ins 21

All statistics

8/1553% Aerial duels 7/1547%

71 Backward passes 56

7 Blocked shots 4

11 Clearances 29

5/2917% Crosses 1/617%

6/1155% Dribbles 4/1136%

72 Failed passes 80

3 Goalkeeper saves 4

9 Interceptions 6

14 Key passes 8

45/7163% Long passes 20/5040%

96 Passes into the final third 55

273 Passes in the opposition half 153

226 Passes in own half 210

0.33 Shot accuracy 0.29

5 Shots from outside the box 8

13 Shots inside the box 6

7/1258% Tackles 5/771%

470 Total passes 357

Line-ups