Înainte Modelu and CS Portul Constanța served up one of the most dramatic scorelines of the Romanian Liga III season on Wednesday night, with the hosts emerging 4-3 winners after a seven-goal thriller at Stadionul Înainte Modelu. A three-goal first-half blitz looked to have put the game beyond doubt, but a spirited second-half comeback from the visitors turned the contest into a tense, end-to-end battle that was only settled in the closing stages.

The victory lifts Înainte Modelu into a more comfortable position in the Liga III table and extends their strong home form, while CS Portul Constanța are left to reflect on a valiant fightback that ultimately fell just short. For the neutral, it was a showcase of everything that makes the Romanian third tier so compelling: raw intensity, attacking intent, and no shortage of late drama.

Match overview

Fixture: Înainte Modelu vs CS Portul Constanța
Competition: Romanian Liga III
Date: 23 September 2026
Kick-off: 22:00 local time
Final score: Înainte Modelu 4–3 CS Portul Constanța
Venue: Stadionul Înainte Modelu

Played under the lights on a mild September evening, the match attracted a lively local crowd who witnessed a game that swung from complete home control to a nail-biting finish. Modelu started with real purpose, pressing high and moving the ball quickly through midfield, and they were rewarded with an early opener that set the tone for a breathless first half.

First half: Modelu’s three-goal blitz

The hosts needed just 12 minutes to break the deadlock. A well-worked move down the right ended with Andrei Ciobanu arriving late in the box to sweep the ball past the Portul goalkeeper. Ciobanu was a constant menace, dropping between the lines and linking play, and he doubled his tally on 34 minutes with a composed finish after a defensive error gifted him a clear sight of goal.

Portul Constanța struggled to contain Modelu’s high press and conceded a third in first-half stoppage time. Marius Tudor capitalised on a quickly taken short corner, curling a fine effort into the far corner to send the hosts in at the break with a commanding 3-0 lead. At that point, few would have predicted the drama that was to follow.

Second half: Portul’s fightback and Modelu’s late winner

Whatever was said in the away dressing room at half-time had an immediate effect. CS Portul Constanța emerged with renewed urgency, switching to a more direct 4-4-2 and pressing Modelu higher up the pitch. The change paid off on 58 minutes when Alexandru Marin pulled one back with a low drive from the edge of the area.

Nine minutes later, the comeback gathered real momentum. Cristian Dumitru rose highest at the back post to head home a deep cross, and suddenly the home crowd fell silent as the score became 3-2. Portul sensed an equaliser and pushed more players forward, but Modelu weathered the storm and struck a crucial fourth goal on 79 minutes. Daniel Ilie, who had been introduced as a substitute, found space in the box and finished clinically to restore a two-goal cushion.

Still, Portul refused to lie down. With 88 minutes on the clock, Bogdan Popa lashed the ball home from close range to make it 4-3 and set up a frantic finale. The visitors threw everyone forward in the dying moments, and a goalmouth scramble deep into stoppage time almost produced an equaliser, but Modelu’s goalkeeper stood firm to preserve the win.

Key moments

• 12' — Andrei Ciobanu opens the scoring for Înainte Modelu with a crisp finish.
• 34' — Ciobanu doubles the lead after a Portul defensive mistake.
• 45+2' — Marius Tudor curls in a third from a short corner.
• 58' — Alexandru Marin pulls one back for CS Portul Constanța.
• 67' — Cristian Dumitru heads home to make it 3-2.
• 79' — Daniel Ilie restores Modelu’s two-goal cushion.
• 88' — Bogdan Popa sets up a tense finish at 4-3.
• 90+4' — Modelu goalkeeper denies Portul an equaliser with a crucial save.

Tactical story

Înainte Modelu lined up in a 4-2-3-1 and looked to dominate the middle third with quick combinations and aggressive counter-pressing. Their full-backs pushed high, pinning Portul back and creating overloads in wide areas. The early goals forced Portul to chase the game, which in turn opened up space for Modelu to exploit on the break.

Portul Constanța’s first-half shape struggled to cope with the movement of Ciobanu and Tudor, but their half-time adjustment to a more direct 4-4-2 gave them a foothold. By going lon