Cluj climb into the top three on Aliev's double as Mihalcea's crisis deepens

Cluj climb into the top three on Aliev's double as Mihalcea's crisis deepens

By Dr Talal Othman Romanian SuperLiga  Matchday 5 | Cluj Arena | 17 August 2026

On an evening short on composure and long on defensive confusion, "U" Cluj ground out a precious three points against UTA Arad that lifted them into third place in the table, courtesy of a brace from Uzbek forward Alibek Aliev. For UTA's manager, Adrian Mihalcea, the result only deepened his conviction that his side are enduring one of the bleakest spells in years.

The 2-1 scoreline flatters the order that eventually prevailed, given how ragged both halves were. Aliev opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, pouncing after a clear mix-up in the UTA box following a pass from Friday, before doubling his tally from the penalty spot in the 74th minute after a VAR review picked out a handball by Odada inside the area. Andrei Dorobanțu pulled one back with a well-placed header in the 85th minute, but there was no time left for UTA to salvage anything  and their night got worse still when Andrei Gheorghiță was sent off in the first minute of added time after a video review confirmed a clear foul on Sota.

A jittery first half

The opening 45 minutes felt less like a coherent football match than a test of nerve. UTA squandered an early chance in the 29th minute when Alin Roman nearly capitalised on a defensive error from Codrea, before a rocket of a volley from Mikanović was chalked off for offside by VAR in the 37th minute. Two minutes later, Abdallah appealed for a penalty after contact with goalkeeper Lefter, but referee Marian Barbu waved play on. As the half drew to a close, Cluj went ahead through Aliev, who found himself in the right place after a scramble in the box.

Precision returns after the break

UTA tried to find their footing at the start of the second half, and Tzionis almost drew them level with a dangerous effort that Lefter alertly kept out in the 52nd minute. But the decisive moment arrived between the 72nd and 74th minutes, when the referee was called to the pitchside monitor and awarded a clear penalty for handball by Odada  dispatched confidently by Aliev to hand his side a commanding cushion. Dorobanțu restored some hope with a fine header in the 85th minute, but there simply wasn't enough time left, and matters worsened when Gheorghiță saw red deep into stoppage time.

A landmark night for Nistor

Beyond the goals and cards, the evening carried special significance for Cluj captain Dan Nistor, who made his 516th appearance in Romania's top flight  a new all-time record for the competition, the latest milestone in a long career spent across several of the country's clubs.

Bergodi: "We're not at our best yet"

Italian coach Cristiano Bergodi struck a note of cautious satisfaction afterwards: "For the moment it's good, especially given the period we've been through since coming back from the training camp. With eight matches in a row, I think I can be happy, and I congratulate the players on the nine points we've collected. I'm pleased." He was quick to add that his side still has work to do: "The team showed well, but it's early in the season. There's a lot that needs improving." Bergodi singled out goalkeeper Lefter for particular praise, noting he made two or three crucial saves that kept UTA at bay in the first half.

Mihalcea: "I haven't found the key to the problem"

On the other side, Adrian Mihalcea's tone was closer to a cry for help than a tactical debrief. "We're lacking the presence and the ruthlessness to put it in the net. It's clear we're going through a disastrous period," the UTA manager said. He continued, with unusual candour: "It's quite difficult for me... the rounds go by, and every time something happens against us." He closed with a line that summed up the scale of the crisis: "I still haven't found the key to the problem. I don't know, but I can't find it."

Mihalcea made clear the crisis at UTA is not purely tactical but psychological too, with the squad short on viable alternatives and the coach wary of throwing new signings into an intense stretch of fixtures, fearing further injuries after a string of setbacks to key players.

The bigger picture

The win takes Cluj to nine points and third place, at least for now, in a promising start to a season complicated by an already heavy fixture list that includes European commitments. UTA Arad, meanwhile, remain winless after five rounds  a run that piles further pressure on a manager who appears to be fighting a daily battle just to hold the dressing room together before the crisis becomes something bigger than results on paper.

Cluj continue their campaign on 22 August away to Dinamo București, a test that will reveal whether this start is a genuine sign of the "Red Caps'" ambition this season, or simply a fleeting result before sterner examinations ahead.

Written by Dr Talal Othman