Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc secured a 2-1 victory after extra time against CSA Steaua Bucuresti in the Romanian Cup. The visitors led early with the first goal in the 39th minute and Steaua equalised in the 51st minute to force extra time. The winner arrived in the second half of extra time, at 01:50:58, sealing the tie for Csikszereda.

Fouls were level at 14 apiece, underscoring a fiercely contested affair with little to separate the sides on contact. Csikszereda collected three yellow cards (first half 00:35:21 and 00:43:44, plus overtime 01:39:32), while Steaua registered two yellows (overtime 01:53:18 and 01:53:14) and a red card. The Steaua sending-off likely disrupted their defensive structure and limited late-game options in extra time.

Csikszereda wielded a clear set-piece advantage, winning nine corners to Steaua’s three, indicating sustained attacking pressure and higher willingness to threaten from wide positions. Steaua did not have any offside calls, whereas Csikszereda were flagged offside once, suggesting steadier positioning and sharper runs against a compact rearguard. The corner disparity aligns with Csikszereda’s ability to pin Steaua back and create decisive moments late.

The early goal from Csikszereda showed directness and an ability to capitalise on quick transitions, while Steaua’s equaliser demonstrated resilience and a capacity to respond under pressure. The red card against Steaua subsequently constrained their defensive reach and stability in extra time, enabling Csikszereda to press for a late winner with numerical advantage.

Tactical insight points to Csikszereda leveraging width and set-piece frequency to destabilise Steaua, especially in the key phases of extra time. Steaua’s discipline issues and the red card proved to be the decisive factors, turning a tightly fought match into an extra-time win for the visitors. For bettors, this fixture highlights how a team with greater set-piece volume and a late-game disciplinary swing can tilt outcomes in knockout formats.

Betting takeaways: in cup ties, teams generating high corner counts and maintaining compact structure into extra time can swing results, as Csikszereda did here. A red card in extra time is a critical event that dramatically reshapes pressure and scoring likelihood, so live bets should account for sudden changes in numbers and momentum. When analysing similar fixtures, monitor set-piece activity, disciplinary trends, and the impact of late-stage substitutions on game management.

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