By Stadionul Municipal, Botosani — Monday, October 6, 2025

The chill of early autumn in Botosani was no deterrent for either the players or the 7,000 strong who crowded the Stadionul Municipal stands on Monday evening. What unfolded was a match that defied statistical conventions, as FC Botosani claimed a 2-1 victory over Uta Arad in a Liga I contest where efficiency trumped quantity in the final third.

Never has the maxim “quality over quantity” rung so true: FC Botosani registered just one shot—precisely one, their only attempt on target—but left the pitch with three points courtesy of two clinical goals. Uta Arad, more prolific going forward with five shots and two on target, were left to rue their missed chances and patchy passing, as their hosts found a way to win with minimal attacking output but unwavering resolve.

Early Drama and Swift Responses

The match’s narrative was set in the opening minutes. Referee Mihai Popa did not hesitate when, in the third minute, Uta Arad’s goalkeeper Dejan Iliev was penalized for a foul inside the box, collecting the match’s first yellow card for his troubles. Botosani midfielder Zoran Mitrov coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner in the fourth minute, handing the home side a lead with their first foray into Uta Arad’s territory.

But the visitors were quick to restore parity. In the 11th minute, Alin Roman found space just inside the right channel, threading a neat pass to forward Valentin Costache, who made no mistake with a sharp finish past Giannis Anestis. Uta Arad’s technical discipline in midfield was briefly on display during the buildup, but soon gave way to a contest marked by harried clearance and breakdowns in possession from both sides.

A Midfield Battle of Attrition

As the first half wore on, the match settled into a tense, tactical affair. Botosani enjoyed the lion’s share of possession—nearly 60 percent—yet seemed content to recycle the ball across their compact midfield rather than risk forward runs, perhaps mindful of their own attacking limitations. Their total of just 79 completed passes, albeit at a modest 66% accuracy, reflected a pattern of patient play and a preference for retention over risk.

Uta Arad, meanwhile, sought to capitalize on brief spells of pressure but struggled with cohesion. Their 48 passes at only 46% accuracy painted the picture of a side frequently hurried off the ball by Botosani’s disciplined pressing. Fouls were few—just three apiece for both teams—as the contest favored tactical fouling over the physical.

Turning Point and Second-Half Gambles

Both coaches, Leo-Florian Grozavu and Adrian Dumitru Mihalcea, wasted little time in pursuit of a breakthrough after halftime. Botosani refreshed their midfield engine room, bringing on Mihai Bordeianu. Uta Arad responded with like-for-like changes further up the pitch, seeking to inject urgency into their attacking movements with the introduction of Laurențiu Vlăsceanu in the 65th minute.

But it was Botosani who would craft the game’s pivotal moment. In the 73rd minute, substitute Enriko Papa, recently on the pitch, found space on the left and delivered a dangerous ball across the penalty area. Sânmărtean Mailat, finding himself unmarked, redirected the pass past Iliev to snatch a decisive lead—an astonishing feat considering Botosani had managed just the single shot through 73 minutes of play.

Late Tension and Tactical Discipline

The final twenty minutes saw Uta Arad press desperately, but their efforts ran aground on the disciplined Botosani backline marshaled by Andrei Miron and the imposing presence of Pape Djibril Diaw. Despite their superior shot tally and a late flurry of substitutions, the visitors could not find the equalizer. In truth, their best spells came in the early phases and just after halftime, while Botosani’s defensive block grew only more impenetrable as the clock ticked down.

A spate of late substitutions—Roman and Popescu for Uta Arad, Ongenda for Botosani—did little to disrupt Botosani’s resolve. The match concluded with the home side absorbing a final spell of pressure, weathering a late surge that saw Benjamin van Durmen cautioned for dissent in stoppage time.

Implications for the Table

With this win, FC Botosani consolidates its grip on a top-four spot in the Liga I table, their pragmatic style yielding yet another result against higher-volume opposition. For Uta Arad, the defeat is a frustration: their inefficiency in attack and inability to break down a compact Botosani side leaves them mired in mid-table, with their campaign at risk of stagnation unless a clinical edge is found.

“I’d rather win with one shot than not win at all,” Botosani coach Leo Grozavu remarked postmatch—a suitable epilogue for an encounter where style may have been in short supply, but substance proved enough to claim the spoils.