Victoria Traian Surges Past Râmnicu Sărat in Five-Goal Thriller, Climbs Liga III Table Amid Turbulent Season

On a brisk October afternoon at Stadionul Olimpia, Victoria Traian delivered a statement of intent with a stirring 3-2 victory over Râmnicu Sărat, a result that reshapes the contours of Liga III’s Serie 2 midtable and signals a potential turning point for both clubs’ seasons.

The match crackled with urgency and narrative, the kind of contest that lays bare a season’s ambitions and anxieties. For Victoria Traian, sitting in fifth before kickoff—ten points, three wins and a negative goal difference—the stakes were clear: a win to keep pace with the promotion hopefuls, and, perhaps more pressingly, to banish the memory of last week’s humbling 0-3 loss at home to Blejoi. Râmnicu Sărat, meanwhile, arrived desperate to arrest a downward spiral, rooted in tenth with just two wins from seven and a defense that has too often buckled under pressure.

What unfolded was a match worthy of Liga III’s gritty reputation—a seesaw of momentum, defined by incisive attacking play, a pair of standout individual performances, and a late twist that left home supporters staring at another dispiriting defeat.

Early Ambitions and a Lightning Start

From the opening whistle, Victoria Traian signaled their intent, pressing high up the pitch and forcing errant passes out of the Râmnicu Sărat backline. Their aggression was rewarded early: in the 9th minute, midfielder Andrei Lăcătuș pounced on a loose ball at the top of the box, threading a low shot past the outstretched fingertips of home goalkeeper Răzvan Duță to make it 1-0.

Stung by the early concession, Râmnicu Sărat responded with verve. The home side’s leading scorer, Cosmin Stroe, restored parity in the 18th minute, rising above his marker to glance a header off a pinpoint cross from left-back Eduard Pop. The home crowd roared in relief—a rare moment of optimism for a team that had shipped 15 goals across the last five fixtures.

Momentum Swings and Set-Piece Drama

As the half progressed, the match became a chess game in midfield, punctuated by flashes of individual brilliance. But it was Victoria Traian, so recently battered at home, who rediscovered their steel and creativity. On 32 minutes, a cleverly worked corner found its way to the edge of the penalty area, where forward Mihai Bălan, unmarked, curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner. The visitors reclaimed the lead, 2-1, and went into halftime with a renewed sense of control.

Undeterred, Râmnicu Sărat mounted a spirited comeback after the break. Urgency translated into risk as they poured men forward, and their persistence paid off in the 57th minute. Substitute attacker Vlad Gheorghiță wriggled free from two defenders and slotted in an equalizer after a neat give-and-go with Stroe, setting the stage for a frantic final third.

Late Heartbreak and Table Implications

Just as Râmnicu Sărat began to believe a point might yet steady their faltering campaign, disaster struck. A midfield turnover in the 79th minute gifted possession to Victoria Traian’s Adrian Munteanu, who drove forward with purpose and unleashed a dipping shot from 20 yards that was deflected past Duță for the match-winner.

Frustrations boiled over in the closing minutes. Râmnicu Sărat’s captain, Alexandru Vasilescu, saw red in the 88th after a reckless late challenge—an unfortunate microcosm of a season marked by discipline and defensive woes.

With the final whistle, Victoria Traian’s players embraced on the touchline, their three points hoisting them to 13 and narrowing the gap to the promotion spots. For Râmnicu Sărat, the defeat was a bitter pill, leaving them anchored at tenth—six points from a possible 21, and now facing the specter of a relegation dogfight if form does not improve.

Recent Form Shadows and Rivalry Renewed

For Victoria Traian, this result is all the more significant given recent volatility. The 0-3 home defeat to Blejoi had underscored their inconsistency, coming just days after an impressive 2-0 away win at Plopeni. Their ability to rebound on the road, particularly in a hostile environment, speaks to the squad’s resilience—a quality manager Ilie Stan will hope to harness as fixtures tighten.

Râmnicu Sărat, by contrast, must reckon with a run of five matches yielding just two victories and 17 goals conceded. This latest setback—coming days after a 2-4 loss at Păuleşti—exposes ongoing defensive fragility and a lack of composure in pivotal moments. Their attack, spearheaded by Stroe, remains a rare bright spot, but unless solutions are found at the back, their position in the standings may only become more precarious.

The two sides’ head-to-head meetings in recent years have often been tightly contested affairs, and this match will linger in the memory as another chapter in a burgeoning rivalry defined by narrow margins and late drama.

What’s Next: Stakes High as Seasons Take Shape

For Victoria Traian, Friday’s triumph sets up a pivotal stretch. With momentum and renewed belief, they can harbor realistic ambitions of climbing further, especially if they can maintain this newfound balance between attacking flair and defensive organization.

Râmnicu Sărat, meanwhile, faces a week of hard introspection. With just six points from seven games and the pressure mounting, the need for tactical adjustment and on-field leadership has rarely felt more acute. Every fixture now carries heightened stakes as the season’s halfway mark approaches.

On an afternoon in Râmnicu Sărat, the scoreboard told the story: opportunity seized by one, and for the other, a warning that winter may arrive early unless fortunes change—fast.