UTA secured a 1-0 victory against Slobozia in the final stage of the Superliga's play-out, sending Unirea directly to the second division. Kenyan player Richard Odada scored the only goal of the match, which Arad's team finished with three players down and several improvisations on the field. Ialomita's team couldn't even equalize, as Hermannstadt comfortably beat FCSB (2-0). This allowed Bătrâna Doamnă to climb to the 7th position.

At the end of the match, Adrian Mihalcea, the UTA coach, was in tears. He had promoted his hometown team to the Superliga for the 2023-2024 season and kept them there at the end of the previous season by winning the playoff against FC Voluntari.

"I'm sorry for Slobozia. I would have liked them to save themselves. The feelings remain, and I'm sorry. I didn't want to be in this situation, practically contributing to their relegation," Mihalcea said. "Two or three people shouted at me, but I am not to blame for what happened at Slobozia."

During the match, Mihalcea left the bench in protest, though the exact reason was unclear. He talked about principles and honesty, explaining that the decision was his own, whether it was the right one or not.

On Friday, Mihalcea spoke positively about continuing his contract with UTA for the 2026-2027 season, thanks to an automatic renewal for saving the team from relegation. He expressed hope that with further investment, the team could continue to compete at a high level.