Unirea Alba Iulia Storms Past Sântana, 5-0, to Cement Top Spot in Liga III—Statement Victory Sends Clear Message to Title Rivals

In the crisp October air at Stadionul Municipal Victoria, Unirea Alba Iulia delivered a performance as emphatic as the scoreboard suggested, sweeping aside Unirea Sântana 5-0 and staking a forceful claim to the Liga III, Serie 7 summit. The league leaders, now sitting alone at the pinnacle with 19 points from eight matches, turned the encounter into a showcase of their attacking vigor and title ambitions, leaving Sântana searching for answers after a humbling afternoon.

From the opening whistle, it was apparent the hosts were intent on dictating terms. The atmosphere among the home faithful was charged with expectancy, their side’s recent run of form—three wins in their last four across all competitions—serving as backdrop and promise. Within 12 minutes, Alba Iulia’s intent translated to the stat sheet: a sweeping move down the left drew defenders out, and the resulting cross found its way to Alexandru Pop, whose precision finish gave the home side an early lead they would never relinquish.

Sântana, arriving for this fixture fifth in the standings and hoping to close a five-point gap on their table-topping hosts, were not without resolve. Early forays forward yielded half-chances but little to trouble Alba Iulia’s defense, which stood organized and unyielding. The visitors, coming off a goalless draw the previous week, found themselves unable to break a cycle of cautious buildup and blunt execution.

The turning point arrived in the 33rd minute. Alba Iulia pressed high, forced a turnover well inside Sântana’s half, and quickly moved the ball into the box. Răzvan Dinu doubled the lead, slotting home after a clever one-two with midfielder Andrei Lazăr, whose engine and guile steered much of the hosts’ attacking rhythm.

Down by two, Sântana’s composure frayed. Their attempts to claw back momentum foundered in the face of Alba Iulia’s well-drilled pressing. Just before halftime, the match tilted decisively. A counterattack saw Cristian Pintea break free; his shot was parried, only for Pop to pounce on the rebound, netting his second and effectively sealing the outcome before the interval.

The second half opened with Alba Iulia showing no sign of receding into comfort. Instead, they played with a measured authority, cycling possession and probing Sântana’s now-stretched back line. In the 58th minute, their persistence drew further reward: Dinu completed his brace after a perfectly weighted through ball—celebration among the home crowd seemed both jubilant and expectant, the three points already a formality but the margin of victory now a statement.

A brief flicker of Sântana resistance came in the 68th, when a surging run by Mihai Dumitru ended in a shot that struck the outside of the post. But any hopes of a consolation evaporated minutes later. Alba Iulia substitute Ion Miron, introduced for fresh legs, sliced through a weary defense to cap the scoring in the 77th minute with a deft finish from just inside the penalty area, sending the stadium into song.

There would be no late drama, no consolation for the visitors. Both sides finished with a full complement of players—discipline prevailed, though Sântana’s frustration was clear in a flurry of late bookings.

For Alba Iulia, this rout marks the continuation of a scintillating run—four straight league victories, 15 goals scored, and just two conceded in their last five. The only blemish in that run, a narrow Cup exit against FC Botoșani, seems a distant memory as the title chase intensifies. They now hold a commanding position atop the standings, with daylight—five points and a sizeable goal differential—over their nearest challengers with the campaign approaching its midpoint.

Sântana, by contrast, faces urgent questions. A five-match winless streak, punctuated by offensive struggles and now defensive alarm, halts their early-season momentum. Their ambitions for a playoff push remain within reach, but the manner of this defeat, their heaviest of the season, tests both resolve and identity.

In recent meetings, Alba Iulia has consistently held the upper hand—a pattern Sântana will be desperate to disrupt should they meet again in the season’s run-in. Their head-to-head record now tilts even further in Alba Iulia’s favor, the psychological edge reinforcing the tactical gaps laid bare today.

The road ahead sharpens for both clubs. For Alba Iulia, the target is clear: sustain this scorching form and close in on promotion, the margin for error receding as rivals circle. For Sântana, recovery is imperative—rediscovering defensive solidity and rekindling the spark that carried them into the top half.

On a day when autumn’s chill never touched the home supporters, Alba Iulia’s five-star display was a message broadcast to the division: this is a side intent on finishing what it has started, with all the ruthlessness and polish deserving of its current place at the summit.