Siyabonga Ngezana and his club FCSB start the defence of their Superliga title with a disappointing home draw.
At the back of a comprehensive 7-1 victory over SS Virtus in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League Qualifications Round 1, FCSB and Ngezana were hopeful of starting their 2024-2025 league season opener against Universitatea Cluj at home on a high.
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However, the hosts started the match poorly, as in the first half they could only master chances from outside the box at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania to see the match go to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The host came out for the second half a different team all together, as the substitutions of David Miculescu and Michael Edjouma for Daniel Popa and Mihau Lixandru right after the break, brought energy and life to FCSB.
Six minutes into the second half, the hosts broke the deadlock after left winger, Alexandru Musi slotted his first league goal of the season after an assist from a star middlefielder, Adrian Ṣut.
But the lead was short-lived, as Edjouma conceded a penalty after bringing down Adel Bettaieb in the box in the 54th minute, which was coolly slaughtered home by Dan Nistor after a quick VAR check.
Despite the best attempts to win the match, both side had to share a point in their first match of the season.
The disappointing draw leaves FCSB in fifth, and next face Virtus at home in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Qualifications Round 1 on Tuesday, the 16th of July.