BISTRITA, Romania (Interstat) — Antonio Bradu scored in the 23rd minute and Gloria Bistrita made the goal stand up in a 1-0 win over FCSB on Thursday in a competition match. Bradu played 90 minutes and scored once for the home side, which protected its narrow lead and handed FCSB its first loss in the competition. Gloria Bistrita improved to 1-0 in the competition and 3-1 across all competitions. FCSB fell to 0-1 in the competition and 4-1 across all competitions. The home side’s advantage came from the only goal of the match, scored midway through the first half, and Gloria Bistrita kept FCSB off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

The goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Bradu finished for Gloria Bistrita. FCSB pushed for an equalizer but could not find a finishing touch before halftime. The visitors made their first change in the 38th minute, introducing E. Gnahore. The first half ended with yellow cards on both sides. FCSB’s D. Batubinsika was booked in the 44th minute, and Gloria Bistrita’s B. Cavar was cautioned in first-half stoppage time in the 45th minute plus one. The cards broke up the flow late in the half, and Gloria Bistrita went into the break with a one-goal lead.

FCSB made three substitutions in the 64th minute, with O. Arad, D. Politic and D. Popa all entering as the visitors sought fresh legs and a way through. Gloria Bistrita received a yellow card in the 71st minute while defending its advantage. The home side held on through the closing stages and secured the result. FCSB’s changes altered the attacking personnel, but the visitors could not produce an equalizer. The yellow card in the 71st minute added tension to the final stretch, though Gloria Bistrita maintained its one-goal cushion and closed out the match.

FCSB had entered the match after a run of four straight wins across all competitions, including a 4-1 home victory over FC Rapid Bucuresti, a 2-1 win at FC Voluntari, a 1-0 home win over Otelul and a 5-0 win at Arges. Gloria Bistrita had won two of its previous three matches, beating CSC Dumbravita 2-1 and Ramnicu Valcea 1-0 while losing 3-0 at FC Bacau. The result gave Gloria Bistrita another win in a season that has now produced three victories and one loss across all competitions. FCSB’s overall record moved to four wins and one loss, while its competition record stands at one loss.

The result also reflected the different starts to the season for the two sides in the competition. Gloria Bistrita’s win in the competition followed a mixed run in its previous matches. The home side had beaten CSC Dumbravita and Ramnicu Valcea but lost at FC Bacau, and it carried that form into a tight match against FCSB. The early goal allowed Gloria Bistrita to defend with a lead, while FCSB had to chase the game after the 23rd minute. FCSB’s first-half substitution and its three changes in the 64th minute gave the visitors different options, but the equalizer did not come. The yellow card in the 71st minute was part of a tense closing stretch, and Gloria Bistrita held its lead to the final whistle. The win moved Gloria Bistrita to 1-0 in the competition, while FCSB dropped to 0-1.

FCSB next hosts Csikszereda M. Ciuc in the Cupa României. Gloria Bistrita next visits CSM Resita in Liga II. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gloria Bistrita 3, FCSB 2 before kickoff. Interstat’s ELO system had projected FCSB with a 62.7 percent probability to win, and FCSB had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.