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.