Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Wednesday, April 22, 2026 8:21 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, April 22, 2026 9:15 p.m.
SCM Craiova produced a major surprise in the quarter-finals of the Romanian Women's Handball Cup. Costică Buceschi's students prevailed with a score of 30-28 over those from Rapid and advanced to the Final Four of the competition, where they will meet Gloria Bistrița.
SCM Craiova, a team that has an extremely modest domestic season, being in 10th place at the moment, the first position that does not lead to the barrier for rescue, produced the surprise in the Romanian Cup, where they eliminated Rapid, a team with claims, which played in the European cups this season.
The first half of the game in Bucharest ended in a tie, score 17-17. And at the beginning of the second part, the two teams went shoulder to shoulder until the end, when the Oltenses broke away, imposing themselves with a two-goal difference.
SCM Craiova goes to the Final Four of the Cup, Rapid misses any chance of Europe
For Rapid, this was the first match after the departure of coach Laurent Bezeau (57 years old), the one who amicably ended the collaboration with Giuliestencele, after a series of bad results in the championship. He still had a contract with Rapid until 2027.
Rapid had high hopes for the Romanian Cup, because it was the only route that still led to Europe, one of the team's goals.
Last year, Rapid finished 5th and earlier this season they played in the EHF European League, the continent's second most valuable competition, where they dramatically missed out on qualifying for the Final Four.
Now, after 19 stages, Rapid is in 8th place, a position that does not lead to European cups. The only option would have been to win the Romanian Cup, but after the failure with SCM Craiova, they missed the chance to qualify for the Final Four.
Gloria Bistrita also qualified for the Final Four
Also on Wednesday evening, the last quarter-final of the Romanian Cup was played, where the leader of the “Flower League”, Gloria Bistrița, clearly passed Corona Brașov, score 35-22.
Bistritense had no emotions at all and dominated the game from one end to the other. 17-8 was the score after the first 30 minutes, and the hosts continued to increase their gap in the second half.
Next is the Final Four from Baia Mare
Final 4 of the Romanian Women's Handball Cup will take place in Baia Mare, on May 9-10.
The winner of the Romanian Cup will ensure its presence in the EHF European League in the 2026-2027 season.
In 2025, CSM Bucharest won the Romanian Cup after defeating Gloria Bistrița 34-30.
