Universitatea Craiova thrashes Petrolul, Voluntari claims first win

Universitatea Craiova bounced back emphatically after a midweek European defeat, crushing Petrolul Ploiești 4-0 in the Romanian Superliga. The victory, achieved just three days after their Champions League qualifier loss to Levski Sofia, showcased a revitalized performance from the reigning champions. The scoring was opened spectacularly by Steven Nsimba in the opening minute, who netted the fastest goal of the season after only 41 seconds. Nsimba added a second goal in the 18th minute, setting the tone for Craiova's dominance. Ștefan Baiaram extended the lead in the 48th minute, and Simon Elisor sealed the comprehensive win in the 65th minute. Craiova also hit the post late in the game, underlining their control over the match.

This commanding win continues Universitatea Craiova's strong record against Petrolul Ploiești since the latter's return to the top flight in 2022. In their nine previous encounters in the main domestic competition, Craiova has emerged victorious six times, with Petrolul winning once and two matches ending in draws. The result places Universitatea Craiova at the top of the Superliga table with six points from three games, ahead of FCSB on goal difference.

In another fixture, FC Voluntari secured their first victory and first goal of the current campaign, narrowly beating UTA Arad 1-0. Marvin Schieb scored the decisive goal in the 47th minute, marking a significant moment for the promoted side. This win lifts Voluntari off the bottom of the league standings, though they remain in the lower half of the table.