Inter Club d’Escaldes 1-3 CS Universitatea Craiova saw the Romanian visitors recover from an awkward start to claim a convincing UEFA Europa Conference League away victory in Andorra. Craiova’s superior pace, pressing, and finishing in the final third ultimately separated the sides, although Inter Club d’Escaldes gave their home supporters a moment to remember with a spirited second-half response.

Match overview

Played at the Estadi Comunal d’Andorra la Vella, the match began with the hosts eager to make the most of home advantage. Inter pressed aggressively in the opening minutes and tried to force Craiova into mistakes near their own penalty area. The Romanian side initially looked unsettled by the compact pitch and the direct nature of Inter’s approach, but they soon found rhythm through quick combinations in midfield.

Once Craiova settled, the game tilted decisively in their favour. Their midfield controlled the second ball, the wide players stretched Inter’s back line, and the forwards made repeated runs into the channels. By the time the second half began, the visitors had established a clear territorial advantage and looked the more likely side to score whenever they advanced with purpose.

Key moments

• 12th minute — Craiova open the scoring: Alexandru Mitriță converted from the penalty spot after a foul inside the area, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
• 34th minute — Inter respond: The hosts forced a sharp save from Craiova’s goalkeeper with a header from a corner, briefly raising hopes of an equalizer.
• 49th minute — Craiova double the lead: Jovan Marković finished off a flowing move down the right, arriving at the back post to convert a low cross.
• 63rd minute — Inter pull one back: A well-worked set piece ended with a close-range finish that beat the Craiova goalkeeper and brought the home crowd back into the contest.
• 76th minute — Craiova restore control: Marković struck again, this time with a composed finish inside the box after Inter failed to clear their lines.

Tactical story

Inter Club d’Escaldes set up to disrupt rather than dictate. They defended in a mid-to-low block, tried to close the central corridor, and looked to launch quick counters when Craiova lost possession in advanced areas. That plan worked reasonably well for the first half-hour, but the hosts struggled to maintain it after conceding the opening goal. Their pressing lines became stretched, and Craiova’s midfielders found increasing space between the lines.

Craiova’s biggest advantage was their ability to switch play quickly. When Inter compacted on one side, the Romanian side recycled possession and attacked the opposite flank, forcing the Andorran defenders into long recovery runs. The introduction of fresher legs in the second half added further urgency, and Craiova’s third goal was a direct result of their persistence in winning second balls around the penalty area.

Standout players

Mitriță’s early penalty settled Craiova and his movement between the lines consistently troubled Inter’s midfield. Marković was the game’s sharpest finisher, scoring twice and constantly finding space at the back post. For Inter, the goalkeeper kept the score respectable with several saves, while the captain’s leadership helped the hosts produce a brief fightback after the interval.

What the result means

The win strengthens CS Universitatea Craiova’s position in the UEFA Europa Conference League league phase and gives them valuable momentum ahead of their next European fixture. For Inter Club d’Escaldes, the defeat is a lesson in the fine margins of continental football: they competed well in spells, but Craiova’s efficiency in front of goal and ability to raise the tempo after halftime proved decisive. Inter will take encouragement from their second-half goal, but they will need greater defensive solidity to collect points in the matches to come.