Olimpic Zărneşti Make Their Intentions Clear With Ruthless 4-0 Rout of Kids Tâmpa Braşov, Closing In On Liga III’s Top Two

On a sharply cool October afternoon at Stadionul Celuloza, Olimpic Zărneşti delivered a statement every promotion hopeful dreams of: a dominant 4-0 victory over Kids Tâmpa Braşov that not only preserved their unbeaten league campaign, but also sent a ripple through Liga III, Serie 4’s crowded upper tier.

There was no early jostling for tempo, no tentative exchanges. Instead, Zărneşti reaffirmed why they are now firmly in the Serie 4 promotion conversation. From the opening whistle, their movement pressed and pinned a struggling Tâmpa Braşov back line, the hosts’ intentions as crisp as the autumn air.

The breakthrough came swiftly, the first of four moments that would turn what could have been a routine encounter into a showcase of Zărneşti’s ambition. In the 12th minute, veteran midfielder Mihai Bălan picked up a loose ball just outside the penalty area and struck low with his weaker foot. It was the kind of opportunistic finish that speaks to both individual sharpness and a collective hunger for seizing moments—traits that have characterized Zărneşti’s stout early-season form.

Kids Tâmpa Braşov, by contrast, looked every part the side still searching for rhythm and answers. Positioned 11th in the table and having managed just a single league win in seven matches, they found themselves immediately on the back foot—unable to stem the maroon tide that crashed forward again and again.

The second goal, arriving on the half-hour mark, underscored the gulf in confidence. Right winger Andrei Marin dazzled with a solo run down the flank, beating two defenders before squaring for striker Alexandru Stoica to tap home from close range. The home crowd, already abuzz, sensed a decisive afternoon unfolding.

The third, a penalty just before halftime, came off a reckless challenge in the box against Zărneşti’s tireless captain Răzvan Dumitrescu. The official pointed to the spot without hesitation. Stoica stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way for his second of the match, effectively extinguishing any prospect of a Tâmpa Braşov revival before the break.

With the points all but secured, Zărneşti showed none of the complacency that often afflicts teams in control. They maintained their press, their shape, and most importantly, their hunger to put a marker down for the rest of the promotion fight. On 68 minutes, it was Dumitrescu again orchestrating from deep, threading a sublime through-ball to Florin Vlăduț, who rounded the keeper for Zărneşti’s fourth—a goal met with both jubilation and a clear sense of purpose from the touchline.

For Kids Tâmpa Braşov, the day was a microcosm of a campaign gone awry. Coming into the match on the heels of a 3-0 loss at Urban Titu, and with just four points from seven games, they never truly threatened. Their brief spell of resistance in the early stages of the second half yielded little. A late red card to midfielder Cristian Munteanu for a second yellow summed up the mounting frustration—a team with plenty of spirit, but short on answers and composure.

Zărneşti’s 4-0 performance serves as a compelling response to their own run of form. After a frenetic 2-2 draw away at Voința Crevedia last week, followed by hard-earned wins over Urban Titu and Săcele, and their only blemish a summer Cup exit to the very same Săcele, today’s rout erased any lingering doubts about their mettle or momentum.

With 17 points from 7 matches (5 wins, 2 draws, no defeats), Zărneşti remain perched on the third rung of the ladder—breathing down the necks of the league’s front-runners. This win also pushes their goal differential into rarefied territory, an asset that could prove pivotal in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested Serie 4 campaign.

For Tâmpa Braşov, the challenge grows steeper. Anchored in 11th with only four points and a goal drought now extending two league fixtures, their focus must urgently turn to shoring up a leaky defense and rediscovering attacking impetus—before the season’s second act becomes a long battle against relegation.

The narrative of today’s encounter was clear: one side announcing itself as a credible promotion contender, the other mired in an early-season malaise. With another batch of critical fixtures awaiting after the international break, Zărneşti’s faithful can now dream bolder. Across the pitch, Tâmpa Braşov’s supporters are left searching for hope in the horizon—and answers from within.