BUCHAREST — A single, nerveless penalty from Florin Tanase in the 39th minute proved decisive as FCSB edged Universitatea Craiova, 1-0, in a tightly contested Liga I affair on Sunday evening at Arena Nationala. The result, carved from a game of few clear chances and persistent midfield battles, keeps FCSB firmly in the race at the top of the Romanian championship as the season inches toward its halfway mark.

Both teams entered on strong runs, setting up a match brimming with expectation but ultimately defined by discipline, tactical rigidity, and a momentary lapse at the back which gave FCSB their winning chance.

Early Spark, Little Reward

Universitatea Craiova, lining up in manager Mirel Radoi’s signature 3-5-2, sought to impose themselves from the opening whistle, marshaling more of the ball and probing FCSB’s defensive organization. Their midfield orchestrators, notably Tudor Baluta and Alexandru Cicaldau, circulated possession with intent, but FCSB, coached by Ilias Charalampous, were content to absorb pressure in a compact 4-2-3-1.

The opening exchanges saw little in the way of goalmouth action, though both teams demonstrated a willingness to press high and contest every inch of the pitch. The first notable bookings came with Alexandru Pantea and Steven Nsimba receiving yellow cards within a heated fifteenth minute, an indicator of the contest’s rising temperature.

Turning Point: The Decisive Penalty

The breakthrough arrived six minutes before halftime, a product less of creative invention than a misjudgment under pressure. A surging run from FCSB’s attacking line forced the visitors into a clumsy challenge in the box, earning the hosts a penalty. Tanase, cool and composed, dispatched his effort past Pavlo Isenko to give FCSB the lead — their only shot on target of the evening.

If the penalty set the match’s course, it did little to open up play. FCSB, ahead, receded further, ceding possession to Universitatea Craiova, who, despite having 55 percent of the ball, struggled to convert their superiority into clear sights of goal.

Second Half: Frustration Mounts for Craiova

The balance of the match tilted after halftime as Universitatea Craiova pressed in search of parity. Mihnea Radulescu and Monday Etim, introduced to add urgency, found little joy against a resolute FCSB back line marshaled by Mihai Popescu and Siyabonga Ngezana.

The contest tilted further on 58 minutes when the visitors’ creativity suffered a blow. Alexandru Cicaldau, booked for a second time after a rash challenge, was sent off, reducing Craiova to ten men. Down a player, Radoi’s team faced an uphill task.

Still, Craiova pushed forward. Substitute Samuel Teles and forward Steven Nsimba saw half chances sail off target, emblematic of the visitors’ inefficacy in the final third. Though they finished with five shots, none were truly threatening for FCSB goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu, who commanded his area with assurance and received a booking himself in the dying moments for time-wasting.

FCSB Hold Firm as Tempers Flare

As the match wore on, so did the tally of yellow cards. By the final whistle, the referee had issued nine bookings in total, including a late caution for FCSB’s Darius Miculescu. The hosts, with only 146 total passes and three shots—none after the interval—were content to defend deep and slow the play, a strategy that ultimately produced three points and frustration for their rivals.

Universitatea Craiova, for their part, saw their captain’s red card galvanize a late surge, but their approach lacked the precision necessary to breach the FCSB rearguard. They finished with four of their five shots off target and just a solitary corner to show for their territorial dominance.

Implications: Tight at the Top

The outcome tightens an already congested title picture. FCSB’s clinical efficiency and steely rearguard under pressure underlined their credentials, while Universitatea Craiova are left to rue a missed opportunity to solidify their own ambitions. For Charalampous and his men, the victory offers a blueprint for grinding out results when style gives way to substance.

On a night short on spectacle but heavy with significance, it was Tanase’s precision from the spot and FCSB’s collective resolve that carried the day—proof, once again, that championships are often won not with flourishes but with grit.