Sunday evening in Craiova delivered a riveting chapter in the Romanian Superliga, as Universitatea Craiova edged out FCSB 1-0 in the 27th round at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco. The match, brimming with intensity and playoff implications, saw the home side leap further ahead in the standings while FCSB’s hopes for a postseason berth took a serious hit.
It was Palestinian striker Assad Al Hamlawi who stole the show, netting the only goal of the contest in the 23rd minute. His left-footed, curling shot into the far corner sent the home crowd into a frenzy and proved decisive on a night when both teams had plenty to play for. The goal came after a slick dribble past FCSB’s Graovac, with Al Hamlawi calmly placing the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matei Popa. This finish marked Al Hamlawi’s sixth goal of the season, underlining his growing importance in Craiova’s attacking trio alongside Steven Nsimba and Ștefan Baiaram.
Remarkably, this was Universitatea Craiova’s first league victory over FCSB since May 6, 2024, breaking a five-match winless streak against the Bucharest giants. The timing couldn’t have been better: the win not only cemented Craiova’s place at the top of the Superliga with 50 points, but also extended their unbeaten run at home to four matches. The Oltenians now hold a slender one-point lead over Rapid București, who faltered earlier in the week, making the race for the title even more thrilling as the regular season enters its final stretch.
The opening exchanges set the tone for a fiercely contested encounter. Within just two minutes, Monday Etim had the game’s first real chance, shooting narrowly wide from 11 meters after a clever pass from Al Hamlawi. FCSB responded almost instantly—Daniel Bîrligea’s powerful effort from the edge of the box in the 5th minute rattled the crossbar, and just a minute later, Mihai Lixandru forced a sharp save from Laurențiu Popescu with a long-range effort. Both sides traded blows, with Bancu and Cisotti missing headers in the 15th and 20th minutes respectively.
As the first half wore on, Universitatea Craiova began to assert themselves. In the 23rd minute, Al Hamlawi broke the deadlock with his well-taken goal, capitalizing on a moment of defensive indecision from FCSB. The hosts nearly doubled their lead before the break, with Cicâldău and Matei both coming close, but FCSB’s defense held firm. At halftime, Craiova led 1-0 and looked the more dangerous side, having created the better chances and managed the tempo of the game with authority.
FCSB, missing their captain and top scorer Florin Tănase due to injury sustained in a recent Romanian Cup clash with Craiova, struggled to find a cutting edge. Despite this setback, they began the second half with renewed purpose, dominating possession (an eye-popping 85% between the 45th and 60th minutes) and pushing the hosts deep into their own half. Yet, for all their territorial advantage, clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by.
The visitors thought they had found a way back into the game in the 54th minute when David Matei found the net following a fortuitous rebound, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for a marginal offside. It was a pivotal moment—one that could have changed the complexion of the contest. Instead, it seemed to galvanize Craiova, who defended resolutely and looked dangerous on the counter.
FCSB continued to press. Juri Cisotti missed a golden chance to equalize in the 65th minute, failing to lob Popescu after a slick move, and Bîrligea squandered two late opportunities—heading wide from a Radunovic cross in the 71st minute and again missing the target deep into stoppage time (90+3 minute). Darius Olaru also saw a shot flash wide as FCSB’s frustration mounted. The visitors’ inability to convert their dominance into goals ultimately cost them dearly.
Universitatea Craiova’s defensive solidity was on full display. The team has now kept clean sheets in 11 of their 27 Superliga matches this season, a mark surpassed only by FC Argeș and FC Botoșani (12 clean sheets each). Their home form has been outstanding: nine wins, three draws, and just one loss in 13 matches at the Ion Oblemenco fortress. This consistency has been the foundation of their title push, with coach Filipe Coelho’s men showing both resilience and flair in equal measure.
For FCSB, the defeat leaves them in eighth place with 40 points, facing a daunting task to qualify for the play-offs. With just three rounds remaining, the reigning champions must win all their remaining fixtures—against Metaloglobus at home, UTA away, and U Cluj at home—to keep their postseason hopes alive. The absence of Tănase, who scored the winning penalty in the reverse fixture back in October, was keenly felt, as the attack lacked its usual sharpness.
The rivalry between these two storied clubs has been fiercely contested in recent years. Since 2014, they’ve met 42 times in the main domestic competition: FCSB has claimed 27 victories, Craiova eight, and seven matches have ended in draws. This latest result, however, marks a significant shift in momentum, with Craiova finally getting the better of their rivals after a long drought. The last time the Oltenians triumphed over FCSB in the league was back in May 2024—a 2-0 win that now echoes in the memory of the home faithful.
Both teams came into the match in good form. Craiova had registered four wins, one draw, and one loss in their previous six outings, while FCSB boasted four victories and two defeats over the same period. The stakes were high, and the tension palpable, especially as FCSB’s recent away record has been patchy—just 19 points from a possible 39 on the road.
Referee Marian Barbu officiated the match, with Marcel Bîrsan handling VAR duties. The game was played in front of a passionate crowd, who witnessed a tactical battle punctuated by moments of individual brilliance and collective grit.
As the final whistle blew after eight minutes of stoppage time, Universitatea Craiova’s players celebrated a hard-fought victory that could prove crucial in the race for the Superliga title. With just a handful of matches left in the regular season, the Oltenians have put themselves in pole position—but with Rapid București breathing down their necks and FCSB desperate to salvage their campaign, the drama is far from over.