CFR 1907 Cluj vs Karpaty

The first 45 minutes produced few clear-cut chances. Karpaty's D. Miroshnichenko was booked in the 32nd minute for a late challenge, and CFR's L. Biliboc followed him into the referee's notebook two minutes later, reflecting a scrappy, disjointed opening period typical of early pre-season.

The game opened up after the interval as both sides made changes. The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when a Karpaty defender was adjudged to have handled or fouled inside the area. Đoković, the Croatian playmaker, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 1-0.

Karpaty pushed for an equaliser in the final 20 minutes but could not find a way through a CFR defence that has now kept clean sheets in two of their three pre-season outings.

The penalty award in the 71st minute. Until then, the match looked destined for a 0-0 stalemate. Đoković's composed finish gave CFR a lead they never looked like relinquishing, and the home side managed the closing stages professionally.

Damjan Đoković (CFR 1907 Cluj) — The Croatian midfielder scored the only goal from the penalty spot and was the most influential player on the pitch, showing composure in a match that lacked quality in the final third.

CFR's defensive unit — Kept Karpaty at bay without conceding a goal, building on a 1-1 draw with Noah (Artsakh) on 7 July and a 1-0 win over Aluminij before that — a run that suggests encouraging defensive solidity in pre-season.

Karpaty's backline — Organised and largely effective before the penalty, limiting a Romanian top-four side to only a handful of chances. The Lviv side had conceded just three goals in three pre-season friendlies before this fixture.

The match was a low-event friendly. The single goal from the penalty spot and two yellow cards were the only significant actions recorded. CFR's 1-0 win follows a 1-1 draw with Noah (Artsakh) on 7 July and a 1-0 win over Aluminij on 2 July — three pre-season games producing exactly one goal per match. For Karpaty, this was their third friendly of the summer (after a 2-1 win over Nyva Ternopil on 3 July and a draw with Fenix-Mariupol on 2 July), and the first time they have failed to score in pre-season.

Both sides are in the early stages of pre-season preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. CFR Cluj, who finished fourth in the Romanian SuperLiga regular season before reaching the championship play-off, continue their build-up with further friendlies before the new domestic season begins. Karpaty, who finished ninth in the Ukrainian Premier League under Spanish manager Fran Fernandez, are midway through a Slovenia training camp (4-19 July) and have further friendlies scheduled against Bravo (11 July), Veres Rivne (25 July, double-header), and two as-yet-unannounced opponents on 17-18 July.

CFR Cluj's next fixture is against SC Oțelul Galați in the SuperLiga on 18 July 2026. Karpaty's next friendly is against Bravo on 11 July 2026 in Slovenia.

A typical pre-season friendly low on quality but high on fitness work. Đoković's penalty was the only moment of incision. CFR's defensive organisation is a positive takeaway for manager Dan Petrescu, while Karpaty will value the competitive minutes against a higher-calibre opponent as they build towards the Ukrainian Premier League restart.