SFÂNTU GHEORGHE, Romania (Interstat) — Univ. Craiova scored five unanswered goals and defeated Sepsi on Monday, remaining perfect in the competition and continuing a strong start across all competitions. The visiting side controlled the match from the opening minutes and never allowed the home team to find a foothold, turning a competitive fixture into a one-sided result. Univ. Craiova improved to 3 wins, 0 losses in this competition and 6 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw across all competitions. Sepsi fell to 0 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw in the competition and 1 win, 3 losses, and 1 draw overall.

Oleksandr Romanchuk opened the scoring in the second minute, giving Univ. Craiova an early lead that shaped the rest of the match. Assad Al Hamlawi doubled the advantage in the 49th minute and later added a second goal, finishing with two goals in 71 minutes. Simon Elisor, who played 19 minutes off the bench, scored in the 72nd and 80th minutes to complete the rout. Alexandru Cicaldau played the full match and provided two assists, while Stefan Baiaram and Mihnea Gabriel Radulescu each recorded one assist. Craiova’s pressure forced Sepsi into repeated defensive errors, and the visitors created chances through both central combinations and wide deliveries.

Sepsi’s difficulties increased when Leon Rose received a yellow card in the 31st minute. The home side then lost Sekou Karamoko to a red card in the 79th minute, and Univ. Craiova took advantage a minute later when Elisor scored again. The sending-off left Sepsi with a multi-goal deficit and little chance to respond, and the final stages played out with Univ. Craiova comfortably in control. The visitors managed the game well after the red card, keeping possession and limiting Sepsi’s opportunities. Sepsi made substitutions in the 57th, 66th, and 81st minutes, but the changes could not alter the flow of the match.

Univ. Craiova’s attacking depth was evident throughout. Al Hamlawi’s two goals came in 71 minutes, Romanchuk scored once while playing the full match, and Elisor needed only 19 minutes to score twice. Cicaldau’s two assists anchored the midfield, and the contributions from Baiaram and Radulescu helped stretch Sepsi’s defense. Craiova also used substitutions in the 59th, 71st, and 75th minutes, with Stevanovic, Baluta, and Screciu entering the match. Sepsi, meanwhile, could not build on its recent draw at Petrolul and remained without a win in the competition. The home side’s best spell came before halftime, but it failed to test the Craiova goalkeeper consistently.

The first half followed a clear pattern. Craiova pressed high, won second balls in midfield, and kept Sepsi pinned in its own half for long stretches. Romanchuk’s early goal gave the visitors a lead to protect, and they nearly added another before the break. Sepsi’s best response came through set pieces, but the home side lacked precision in the final third. The yellow card to Rose in the 31st minute came as Craiova’s midfield, led by Cicaldau, controlled the tempo. Craiova took a one-goal lead into halftime but had already established the territorial advantage that would define the second half. After the restart, Craiova doubled the lead in the 49th minute and never looked back. The visitors finished with five goals and a clean sheet, and their defensive line held firm. The final whistle confirmed the rout.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Univ. Craiova 2, Sepsi 0. Interstat’s ELO system gave Univ. Craiova a 59.5 percent probability to win. Univ. Craiova had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 2.5.