Universitatea Craiova experienced a challenging match against UTA, breaking free only in the last 5-6 minutes to secure a 4-0 victory. Up until that point, the game remained balanced, disrupted only by Samuel Teles’s goal in the second half. UTA struggled significantly in the final moments of the match.
U Craiova is maintaining its positive start to the season, having completed the preliminary round of the UEFA Champions League and claiming the Supercup. They now embark on the league with a strong performance.
Despite the convincing final score, U Craiova worked hard for their three points against UTA. The 4-0 result seems misleading given the balance of play; UTA managed to hold their ground against the reigning champions for a significant portion of the match before a dramatic collapse opened the floodgates for Craiova.
Player Ratings for U Craiova
• Răzvan Sava – 7: Effectively blocked all UTA’s attempts, providing breathing room for his teammates.
• Alexandru Crețu – 7: Strong on his feet, he halted many UTA attacks while making several long passes.
• Nikola Stevanovic – 7: Solid performance in central defense.
• Vladimir Screciu – 7: Executed launch plays flawlessly without defensive errors.
• Heriberto Tavares – 5: Struggled in the game, failing to connect passes and losing possession frequently (23 times).
• Samuel Teles – 8: Key player for opening the scoring with a stunning shot from 25 meters at a critical moment when the score was 0-0.
• Anzor Mekvabishvili – 6: Played his usual midfield role but appeared more timid in attack.
• Nicușor Bancu – 6: Dominated the left flank but lacked standout moments.
• David Matei – 7: Very mobile and proactive, he consistently advanced with the ball.
• Steven Nsimba – 5: Had a quiet first half, trapped by UTA defenders.
• Monday Etim – 4: Unnoticeable in the offensive zone, he was substituted at halftime.
• Coach Filipe Coelho – 7: Made impactful substitutions at halftime that revitalized the team’s performance.
Substitutes:
• Ștefan Baiaram – 7: Assisted Teles’s goal and scored the second, constantly troubling UTA.
• Carlos Mora – 8: Made an immediate impact after coming on at the 52nd minute, providing assists for Baiaram and Elisor.
• Simon Elisor – 7: Scored an acrobatic goal, proving his worth as a contender for a starting position.
• Alexandru Cicâldău – 6: Hit the crossbar but did not match the performance level of other substitutes.
• Olexandr Romanchuk – 6: Failed to make a significant impact at the match’s conclusion when UTA posed little threat.
Player Ratings for UTA
• Andrei Gorcea – 5: Conceded a fourth goal due to a misunderstanding but made several important saves.
• Andrei Dorobanțu – 6: Steady presence in defense but attempted to push forward unsuccessfully.
• Dmytro Pospelov – 5: Largely absent from offensive plays, especially in the final push from Craiova.
• Alexandru Benga – 5: Had moments where he inexplicably weakened the defense toward the end of the match.
• Din Alomerovic – 4: Conceded an own goal and struggled defensively after Mora’s entry.
• Mino Sota – 5: Almost invisible throughout the match.
• Richard Odada – 6: Had a decent first half but was less effective after the break.
• Hakim Abdallah – 4: Failed to make an impact on the match.
• Alin Roman – 5: Lacked substance during his time on the field.
• Marinos Tzionis – 6: Active in the first half but faded away after halftime.
• Marius Coman – 5: Limited playing time, with only one scoring opportunity blocked by Sava.
Substitutes:
• Denis Țăroi – 5: Showed brief flashes of brilliance but couldn’t lift the team.
• Andrea Padula – 5: Failed to contribute significantly during the game.
• Alexi Pitu – 6: Brought fresh energy but insufficient to support a fading team.
• Răzvan Oaidă – 5: Overwhelmed by Craiova’s pressure in the decisive moments.
• Jayson Papeau – Played too little to warrant a rating.
Referee: Rareș Vidican – 7: Managed the game without complications.
Assistant 1: Valentin Dumitru – 7: Made correct decisions throughout the match.
Assistant 2: Ionuț Bîrdeș – 7: Judged close offside calls effectively.
