Tromsø Edge Past Cluj After Dramatic Second Half
Tromsø secured a 2:1 victory over CFR 1907 Cluj in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League at Romssa Arena on Thursday evening. The Norwegians had already beaten the Romanian side 5:0 just seven days earlier, but this was a different kind of performance. The hosts dominated possession and territory, yet Cluj fought back with two second-half goals before being overtaken again.
L. Hien opened the scoring in the sixth minute, a moment that set the tone for the first half. Tromsø carried the side with their attacking intent, but the second half brought a shift in momentum. Five Cluj substitutions came at the break, and within two minutes I. Vadebu restored the Norwegian lead. The Romanian side picked up two bookings in five minutes as Adrian Păun and Meriton Korenica went to the referee.
Cluj then found their footing. Meriton Korenica struck twice in quick succession—first in the seventy-eighth minute, then again a minute later—to give the visitors what looked like a winning advantage. The old head settled them down, or so it seemed. But Tromsø refused to let the game slip away, weathering the storm and responding when it mattered most.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Tromsø held 68 per cent possession and registered six shots on target compared to Cluj's single attempt on goal. Six of Tromsø's thirteen shots found the target, yet they only converted two. Cluj had one shot on target from seven attempts and scored twice. That is the nature of football—many shots with one goal means chances went begging, and sometimes a few chances are all you need.
The result leaves Tromsø in a strong position in the tie, having now won both meetings this summer. Cluj's away record in this campaign remains to be seen, but they showed resilience in coming back from a goal down. The draw brought them together early, and the history between them adds an edge. Tromsø saw it out, and the Norwegian side moves closer to the group stage.