CFR Cluj’s European campaign came to a bitter end as they were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League following a devastating 3-0 loss to Pafos FC in Cyprus. Despite holding a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg, the Romanian vice-champions could not withstand the Cypriot side’s relentless pressure, ultimately losing 3-1 on aggregate.
Pafos vs. CFR Cluj – Match Information
| Match | Pafos vs. CFR Cluj |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Alphamega Stadium |
| Referee | Craig Pawson (England) |
| Assistant Referees | Simon Bennett (England), Daniel Robathan (England) |
| Fourth Official | Darren Bond (England) |
| VAR | Andrew Madley (England) |
| Assistant VAR | Sian Massey (England) |
Team Lineups
| Team | Starting XI | Substitutes | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pafos (3-4-3) | Ivusic – Luckassen, Goldar, Pontelo – Bruno, Sunjic, Pepe, V. Dragomir – Jaja, Jairo (cpt.), Tankovic | Theodoulou, Michael, Pileas, L. Vieira, Name, Anderson, Dalligna, Ilia, Correia | Juan Carlos Carcedo |
| CFR Cluj (4-3-3) | M. Popa – Mogoș, Boben, Kresic, Camora (cpt.) – Artean, K. Keita, Tachtsidis – Nkololo, Bîrligea, Korenica | Răcășan, Hindrich, Abeid, Leo Bolgado, Ajeti, Kamara, Păun, Simao Rocha, Fică, Djokovic, L. Munteanu, Michael | Dan Petrescu |
First Leg Advantage Squandered
Heading into the second leg with a slender advantage, thanks to a goal from Korenica in Cluj, CFR needed to maintain their composure and hold off Pafos to secure a third group stage appearance in the last four years. However, the absence of Ciprian Deac, their primary playmaker who was suspended after a red card in the first leg, proved to be a significant blow. Dan Petrescu opted to replace Deac with Nkololo, keeping the rest of the usual European lineup intact.
Pafos, though uninspiring in the first leg, had shown their resilience in the previous round, where they overturned a deficit in extra time against Bulgaria’s CSKA 1948 Sofia. The Cypriots entered the match with confidence, backed by a small but fervent group of supporters, who made the most of the sparse crowd to create an intimidating atmosphere.
Pafos Dominates from the Start
The match began with a scare for CFR Cluj as Kresic’s weak back pass was intercepted by Jairo, only for goalkeeper Popa to make a miraculous save just seconds into the game. This early warning sign set the tone for a match where Pafos applied relentless pressure on CFR Cluj, forcing them into defensive errors and limiting their ability to advance the ball into the opposing half.
Despite a brief spell of resistance from CFR Cluj, including a dangerous shot from Camora, Pafos continued to dictate the game. A misplaced pass from Keita allowed Jairo to bypass Mogoș and deliver a perfect cross to Jaja, who finished calmly from close range to level the aggregate score.
CFR Cluj Collapse Under Pressure
Barely minutes later, CFR Cluj’s defensive frailties were exposed once more when Goldar was left unmarked during a free kick from Pepe, heading home from six meters to make it 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. The Romanian side appeared shell-shocked, unable to react or regain control, and found themselves on the brink of elimination with over an hour of the game still to play.
Korenica attempted to respond with a turning shot that was saved with difficulty by Pafos goalkeeper Ivusic, but this was the extent of CFR’s attacking threat. The rest of the first half saw more mistakes from the Cluj defense, and they were fortunate not to concede a third before the break, as VAR came to their rescue.
Penalty Seals CFR Cluj’s Fate
The second half began disastrously for CFR Cluj as Jaja outpaced Mogoș and was fouled in the box by Boben, resulting in a penalty for Pafos. Tankovic calmly converted from the spot, making it 3-0 and effectively ending CFR Cluj’s hopes of a comeback before the 50th minute. With Pafos now comfortably ahead, CFR Cluj struggled to make any significant impact, despite Dan Petrescu making substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the game.
The introduction of Munteanu and Kamara failed to spark a revival, as Pafos, now in control, occasionally threatened on the counterattack but were content to manage their lead. Meanwhile, CFR Cluj looked disjointed, lacking leadership, creativity, and the fighting spirit that had seen them through previous European campaigns.
Dan Petrescu Out of Answers
Dan Petrescu, the usually animated and tactical mastermind on the sidelines, appeared drained and out of ideas as his team was outplayed by a side that finished fifth in the Cypriot league last season. The frustration was evident as even basic set-piece execution, like corners from Nkololo, was poorly managed, with no adjustments or instructions coming from the bench.
As the final whistle blew, bringing an end to a harrowing night for CFR Cluj, it became clear that the team was a mere shadow of the one that had competed in Europe in recent years. Pafos advanced to the Conference League group stage, leaving CFR Cluj to reflect on missed opportunities and costly mistakes.
A Focus on Domestic Competition
With their European journey abruptly ended, CFR Cluj must now turn their attention back to domestic competition. Although they missed out on the significant financial boost from Conference League group stage qualification, which would have brought over three million euros, the team can now focus entirely on their Superliga campaign. However, the sting of this defeat will linger, serving as a harsh reminder of the fine margins in football and the relentless reality of European competition.
