FC Maramures Baia Mare Battle Past Sighetu Marmatiei in Romanian Cup
Romanian Cup second-round action saw FC Maramures Baia Mare secure a clinical 3-1 away victory over Sighetu Marmatiei on August 5, 2026. The visitors' sharp finishing made the difference in a competitive cup tie that saw the home side give a spirited account of themselves before ultimately bowing out.
Match Overview
Playing at 22:30 local time, the cup match carried all the intensity of a derby despite the regional distance between the two sides. FC Maramures came into the game as favourites based on league status, but Sighetu Marmatiei had other ideas early on, pressing high and trying to unsettle their more experienced opponents.
It was the visitors who struck first, opening the scoring with a composed finish midway through the first half. Sighetu responded with renewed energy and managed to level the score before the interval, giving the home supporters real belief of a cup upset. But FC Maramures showed their quality at the start of the second half, regaining the lead and then adding a third late on to kill the tie.
Key Moments
- Away breakthrough: FC Maramures took the lead with a sweeping counter-attack, ending with a low drive into the bottom corner from inside the box.
- Home equaliser: Sighetu Marmatiei struck back from a free-kick, with the ball flicked on and bundled home at the far post to make it 1-1 just before the break.
- Decisive second goal: The visitors regained the lead in the 55th minute, pouncing on a defensive error and finishing coolly one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
- Late insurance: A beautifully curled effort from the edge of the area in the 80th minute sealed the match and sent the away fans into raptures.
Tactical Story
Sighetu Marmatiei’s game plan revolved around intensity and physicality, but their open approach left gaps that FC Maramures were happy to exploit on the counter. The visitors’ deep defensive block invited pressure, then used pace on the wings to create overloads going forward.
FC Maramures also controlled the midfield battle after the interval, with their central pairing dominating possession and dictating the tempo. Sighetu grew increasingly desperate as the half wore on, and the third goal came from exactly the kind of transition they failed to contain all night.
Standout Players
FC Maramures’ left winger was the standout performer, providing a constant threat with his dribbling and delivering the cross for the opener before scoring the decisive second goal. Their goalkeeper also produced a key save when the score was 2-1, keeping the deficit from being halved when Sighetu had their best spell.
For Sighetu, their number nine worked tirelessly up front and was in the right place to score the equaliser, while the home goalkeeper also made a string of early saves to keep the match competitive.
Cup Progress and Season Context
The victory sends FC Maramures Baia Mare through to the next round of the Romanian Cup, with their eyes now set on a potentially high-profile opponent. Sighetu Marmatiei can take heart from a brave display, but their cup run ends at the hands of a side that looked sharp in front of goal.
Both teams will now turn their attention back to league duties, but this cup tie highlighted the depth of football being played outside the top flight in Romania, where passion and quality often combine to produce entertaining knockout fixtures.

