Universitatea Craiova triumphed over Vitebsk with a 1-0 win in the second leg of the first round of UEFA Champions League qualifiers, concluding with an aggregate score of 5-1.
Following a 4-1 victory in the first leg, the Romanian champions continued their dominance in the return match held at „Ion Oblemenco” Stadium. The game saw both teams locked in a scoreless first half, despite several opportunities created. The decisive moment arrived in injury time, specifically at 90+1 minutes, when captain Nicușor Bancu found the net with an impressive strike.
In the next round, Universitatea Craiova will face Levski Sofia. The first leg is scheduled for July 21/22, with the return leg taking place on July 28/29, where the Romanian champions are expected to play at home.
Player Ratings from GSP for the Match Against Vitebsk: Goalkeeper Popescu Named MVP
Laurențiu Popescu – 8: The standout player on the pitch, he made several crucial saves, often in challenging situations.
Oleksandr Romanchuk – 6: Substituted at halftime; the defense he was part of showed some disorganization, lacking confidence.
Adrian Rus – 6: Did not instill confidence and exhibited numerous hesitations.
Juraj Badelj – 6: Performed at par with his defensive teammates.
Carlos Mora – 5: Invisible during the match, he failed to make any significant impact in attack.
Alexandru Cicâldău – 6: Involved in the game but without notable successes.
Tudor Băluță – 6: Had a chance early in the match but was substituted after struggling to contribute.
Samuel Teles – 6: Engaged in both offensive and defensive plays but was frequently unsure and outpaced.
Etim Monday – 6: Missed a scoring opportunity from outside the box; was active but failed to convert.
Assad Al-Hamlawi – 5: Had an unremarkable match, leading to his substitution after 45 minutes.
Ștefan Baiaram – 6: Played the full match and missed a few scoring chances; showed effort but fell short of expectations.
Coach Filipe Coelho – 7: Made effective substitutions that positively influenced the game.
Substitutes included Nikola Stefanovic – 6, who integrated well into the game; Simon Elisor – 6, who was active in his half; and Heriberto Tavares – 6, who attempted a shot shortly after entering. Nicușor Bancu – 7, the team’s captain, energized the offense and scored the winning goal. Anzor Mekvabishvili did not play enough to receive a rating.
