CS Vulturii Farcasesti claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Minerul Lupeni in the Romanian Liga III on Saturday, 26 September 2026. Two first-half goals proved enough for the hosts at the Stadionul Orășenesc, despite a spirited second-half fightback from the visitors.

The win lifts CS Vulturii Farcasesti up the Liga III table and extends their strong home record, while Minerul Lupeni remain in the lower reaches of the division after another frustrating afternoon on the road.

First half: Vulturii take control

CS Vulturii Farcasesti started brightly and took the lead in the 22nd minute. A corner from the right was only partially cleared, and Marius Stancu reacted quickest to stab the ball home from six yards. The home crowd roared, and Vulturii continued to press forward with purpose.

Their dominance was rewarded again in the 41st minute. Daniel Ionescu picked up the ball on the edge of the box, beat two defenders with a neat turn, and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner. It was a goal of real quality and gave Vulturii a commanding half-time lead.

Second half: Minerul fight back

Minerul Lupeni came out for the second half with renewed determination. They pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Adrian Popa latched onto a through ball and finished calmly past the onrushing goalkeeper. Suddenly, the momentum shifted, and Vulturii were forced to defend deep.

Minerul pushed for an equaliser, and Vulturii goalkeeper Robert Marin made two important saves to preserve the lead. The hosts also had chances on the counter, with Marius Stancu denied by a fine stop late on. In the end, Vulturii's first-half display proved decisive, and they held on for a valuable three points.

Key moments and standout players

• 22' – Goal: Marius Stancu (CS Vulturii Farcasesti) opens the scoring from a corner.
• 41' – Goal: Daniel Ionescu (CS Vulturii Farcasesti) doubles the lead with a solo effort.
• 63' – Goal: Adrian Popa (Minerul Lupeni) pulls one back.
• 85' – Save: Robert Marin denies Minerul an equaliser with a strong save.

Standout player: Marius Stancu was a constant threat for Vulturii, scoring the opener and leading the line with intelligence. For Minerul Lupeni, Adrian Popa was the bright spark, and his goal gave his side hope.

What the result means for the Liga III table

CS Vulturii Farcasesti move into the top half of the Liga III standings with this win. Their home form has been a key factor in their season, and they will look to build on this result in the coming weeks. Minerul Lupeni, meanwhile, remain in danger near the bottom of the table. They showed character to fight back, but defensive errors in the first half cost them dearly.

Both teams return to action next weekend. CS Vulturii Farcasesti travel to face CSM Deva, while Minerul Lupeni host CS Hunedoara. For Vulturii, the aim will be to maintain their momentum; for Minerul, the focus must be on cutting out the mistakes that have plagued their season.