Farul secured a 3:2 victory over Chikserheda in the fourth round of the Liga I regular season on Saturday evening. The hosts moved up to fifth place with eight points from eight games, while the visitors remained rooted in sixteenth spot with just one point. To be fair, the result reflected a game where Farul controlled territory but Chikserheda made their chances count when it mattered.
The opening period saw Farul press forward, though their first effort was ruled out. M. Ahlinvi's goal in the eighteenth minute was cancelled after a VAR check, a moment that kept the scoreboard level. I. Doicaru then opened the scoring at twenty-four minutes, and E. Radaslavescu doubled the advantage four minutes later. By then, the home side appeared comfortable with their lead.
But the momentum shifted when Ahlinvi finally saw his effort counted in the fortieth minute. The equaliser came from A. Czekus for Chikserheda in the sixty-ninth minute, turning a comfortable lead into something more nervous. The visitors had been outplayed in possession but they stayed within striking distance, and the match opened up again.
Farul's statistics tell the story of a team that dominated the ball. They completed 534 passes from a total of 591, with 54 percent possession across ninety minutes. There were six shots on target and four off target, yet only three big chances created. They threw 85 attacks at the Chikserheda defence but could not convert their superiority into goals with the efficiency they might have hoped for.
Chikserheda, by contrast, were more direct and clinical. Their goalkeeper made three saves, and they registered just two shots on target but scored from one of them. They completed 404 passes from 479, with only 46 percent possession, yet their shooting accuracy of 67 percent meant they did not waste their opportunities. Things came to a head in the closing stages, with six yellow cards shown after the hour mark.
The result leaves Farul in fifth place, having lost only once in eight league games. Chikserheda's record remains poor with seven defeats from eight matches, and they sit well off the pace. The visitors will need to find a way to generate more from their limited possession if they are to climb out of the bottom half of the table.