FCSB also won the away match against CFR Cluj, with a score of 1-0 in the current round of the Superliga play-offs, taking another giant step towards a new title eagerly awaited by the red and blue team for 9 years.
The only goal was scored by Florinel Coman in the 15th minute, from a splendid free-kick.
In a beautiful atmosphere at the Gruia stadium, with a packed arena on a pleasant spring evening, the first half of the CFR - FCSB derby did not offer much in terms of excitement. FCSB took the lead, dominated the midfield, and appeared more mature.
The goal came at the end of the first quarter of an hour, by the same fateful Florinel Coman, a shot from a direct free-kick from about 20 meters, central position, hitting the top corner, the ball hitting the crossbar and going into the net past the unlucky Sava.
There were not many clear chances and high-quality football in the rest of the first half, FCSB knew how to keep the ball away from Târnovanu's goal, who, however, had a few hesitations and weak exits on a couple of corners.
FCSB had to work seriously in the second half, where a bit of superficiality and self-sufficiency crept in. CFR started to press, to attack the visitors' goal, had scoring opportunities, one of them even immense through Birligea in the 73rd minute, a shot from 5 meters straight at Târnovanu.
The red and blue team remained calm towards the end, thwarting all attacks, and everything flowed smoothly towards their fourth victory in the play-offs, although it must be mentioned the general melee in injury time, when there were many scuffles, and Abeid received a red card from Colțescu.
Therefore, Gigi Becali's team has 44 points, 13 ahead of CFR Cluj and Craiova, and could become champions as early as the next round, if they defeat Rapid, and Cluj and Craiova earn a maximum of one point in their matches.
Match highlights:
Full-time, FCSB defeats CFR Cluj, 1-0!!
Min.95: Melee between the two teams, Abeid receives a red card after hitting a visiting player on the bench, Tavi Popescu.
INFO: 6 minutes of stoppage time!
Min.88: Antwi comes in for FCSB, Miculescu goes out.
Min.84: FCSB looks a bit disorganized in defense, another corner for CFR, after a shot by Muhar, deflected.
Min.81: Radunovici also receives a yellow card for a foul. Changes for FCSB, Dawa and Radaslavescu come in, Olaru and Tavi Popescu go out.
Min.79: First substitution for FCSB, Coman, tired, goes out, Alhassan comes in.
Min.77: More changes at CFR - Manea and Avonnou go out, Michael and Mogoș come in.
Min.75: Olaru's shot from the edge of the box, Sava barely deflects it to the side, the game heats up!!
Min.73: CFR's biggest chance! Bîrligea shoots weakly from 5 meters, Târnovanu saves with his foot, then he shoots a bit wide again.
Min.72: Florinel Coman tries another long-distance gem, this time from open play, but way off target.
Min.69: El Kaddouri replaces Keita at CFR Cluj.
Min.66: Important chance for Ngezana, free in the 6 meters, sends it over the goal, what a good cross by Tavi Popescu.
Min.65: Boben receives a yellow card for a shirt pull on Coman.
Min.57: First substitution for CFR, Matei Ilie goes out and Kresici comes in.
Min.53: Another important chance for CFR Cluj, Ngezana makes a mistake, someone clears it off the goal line, Tarnovanu was beaten. FCSB plays very superficially in this second half.
Min.50: Good shot at the near post by Tavi Popescu, but Sava catches it securely.
Min.47: Manea has a great chance! His header after a set piece goes just wide of the bar.
Second half begins!
Half-time, 1-0 for FCSB!
Min.43: CFR Cluj has a series of 3-4 consecutive corners at the red and blue team's goal.
Min.38: Very poor clearance by Târnovanu on a dangerous cross from a set piece by CFR, ultimately Muhar heads over.
Min.34: First shot on target for CFR, Otele takes one from distance, easily saved by Târnovanu.
Min.31: Miculescu has a dangerous shot from the edge of the box, corner for FCSB.
Min.29: FCSB dominates the proceedings of this match, being by far the more mature team.
Min.22: Keita receives the first yellow card of the evening, for a cynical foul on Coman.
Min.20: Chiricheș intervenes excellently in front of a Bîrligea who could have penetrated the box directly.
Min.15: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL FCSB!!! 1-0, Coman executes flawlessly, a shot hitting the top corner, the ball touches the crossbar, Coman plays wonderfully in this Liga 1 season.
Min.14: Dangerous free-kick for FCSB, central position, maximum 20 meters!!
Min.12: What a shot... A shot from a long distance, Sava deflects it onto the crossbar, the first big chance!!
Min.10: A corner that could have been dangerous for the visitors, a deflection that was cleared off the goal line.
Min.6: Ngezana is slightly shaken after a duel, a fiercely contested start to the match.
The match begins, it's a sold-out at Gruia!
Starting lineups:
CFR Cluj: R. Sava - Cr. Manea, M. Ilie, Boben, Abeid - Muhar, Keita, Avounou - C. Deac, Bîrligea, Otele. Substitutes: Hindrich, Bălgrădean - Camora, Mogoș, Kresic, Aussi, R. Filip, Fica, El Kaddouri, Serebe, Michael. Coach: Francisc Dican.
FCSB: Târnovanu - V. Crețu, Ngezana, Chiricheș, Radunovic - Lixandru, Ad. Șut, Olaru - Oct. Popescu, Miculescu, Fl. Coman. Substitutes: M. Udrea, A. Vlad - Dawa, Haruț, Pandele, Antwi, Alhassan, Radaslavescu. Coach: Elias Charalambous.
Referee: Sebastian Colţescu.
FCSB is 10 points ahead of CFR, who are perhaps facing their last chance to still hope for the title. Cluj is in 2nd place, and therefore, with a victory, reducing the gap to 7 points, there might still be a glimmer of hope in the next 6 rounds.
FCSB has lost only one match in the last 13 rounds of the championship, against Rapid, a 0-4 in the last round of the regular season.
The red and blue team has scored in 14 of their away matches in the current season, and in seven of these matches, they have kept a clean sheet.
Cluj has won only one direct match in the last 9 against FCSB, in December 2022, on the 15th, with a 1-0 score at FCSB's home.
The most recent direct encounter in the championship took place on December 10, 2023, CFR Cluj-FCSB 1-1, goals scored by Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Darius Olaru.
The match will be televised on DigiSport, OrangeSport, and PrimaSport.