HÎNCEŞTI, Moldova (Interstat) — Petrocub overwhelmed visiting FC Edinet 8-2 at Stadionul Orăşenesc in Hînceşti on Tuesday, turning a brief early deficit into a one-sided victory behind a balanced attack and a two-goal performance from Mihai Lupan. The home side scored eight times after conceding first, controlled possession for long stretches and answered each moment of pressure from FC Edinet with a quick response.

FC Edinet struck first in the 13th minute when Oleg Lupusor scored, but the lead lasted barely a minute. Lupan answered in the 14th to level the match, and Pavel Nazari put Petrocub ahead in the 30th. The home side carried that advantage into halftime and then pulled away after the break. The first half produced three goals and gave Petrocub a lead it never relinquished. FC Edinet’s early goal gave the visitors brief hope, but Petrocub’s immediate reply changed the tone of the match and set up a dominant run through the second half.

Petrocub extended its control early in the second half. Sava scored in the 58th minute, Marius Iosipoi added another in the 63rd and Lupan completed his brace in the 73rd. Petru Popescu made it 6-1 in the 78th, Maxim Cojocaru scored in the 83rd, and after Denis Bizga pulled one back for FC Edinet in the 87th, Bogdan Musteata finished the scoring in the 90th. The home team kept pressing after the interval and repeatedly found space in the final third, while FC Edinet’s replies were limited to Lupusor’s opener and Bizga’s late finish.

Petrocub’s key performers included Lupan with two goals, along with Nazari, Musteata, Mihail Caraghea, Iosipoi, Popescu and Cojocaru each credited with a goal. Lupusor was FC Edinet’s key performer with his first-half strike. The visitors’ scoring was limited to Lupusor’s early goal and Bizga’s late finish, while Petrocub spread its goals across several players and controlled the flow of the match. Petrocub’s attack produced goals from multiple routes, and the home side maintained its advantage without allowing FC Edinet to build sustained momentum.

With the result, Petrocub improved to 1 win and 0 losses in this competition and 9 wins, 3 losses and 5 draws across all competitions. FC Edinet fell to 0 wins and 1 loss in this competition and 0 wins and 1 loss across all competitions. The victory gave Petrocub a winning start in the competition and continued a busy stretch of form across its schedule.

Petrocub’s victory came after a run of mixed results. The club had previously beaten Milsami 2-1, drawn 0-0 with Dacia Buiucani, drawn 1-1 with Zimbru Chisinau, beaten Politehnica 1-0, beaten Sireti 2-1, drawn 2-2 with Sheriff, beaten Balti 3-0, lost 1-0 to Milsami, lost 2-1 to Buiucani and beaten Zimbru 2-1. Those results formed the backdrop for a home performance that produced eight goals and kept FC Edinet under pressure for long stretches.

FC Edinet, meanwhile, remained without a win in the competition and across all competitions after the defeat. The visiting side briefly led through Lupusor and got a late goal from Bizga, but Petrocub’s response was swift and sustained. The home team scored in each half and repeatedly broke through after the interval. Petrocub’s next fixtures include a trip to Balti, a home match against Sheriff, a visit to Sireti, a home game against Politehnica and a trip to Zimbru. The visitors will look to regroup after conceding eight goals, while Petrocub will carry the result into a demanding stretch of fixtures.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Petrocub 3, FC Edinet 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Petrocub with a 96.7 percent probability to win.