CS Universitatea Craiova produced the most emphatic away performance of their Romanian Super Liga campaign so far, dismantling Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe 5-0 at the Stadionul Municipal in Sfântu Gheorghe. The visitors were sharper in every phase of the game, scoring inside the opening quarter of an hour and never allowing Sepsi to settle, before pulling away with a ruthless second-half display that turned a difficult road trip into a statement victory.

A fast start that set the tone

Craiova arrived with intent and needed only 11 minutes to break the deadlock. A quick turnover in midfield released Ștefan Baiaram down the right, and his low, angled finish across goalkeeper Roland Niczuly gave the home side an immediate problem. Sepsi tried to respond through set pieces and the direct running of their wide players, but the visitors' back line, marshalled by Nicușor Bancu, held its shape comfortably.

The second goal arrived just before the half-hour mark and effectively drained the hosts' confidence. Alexandru Cîmpanu drifted infield from the left, exchanged passes with Elvir Koljić and curled a precise effort into the far corner. Sepsi's best spell followed, with a header cleared off the line and a strong save from the Craiova goalkeeper, but the momentum swing never materialised.

Key moments

• 11' — Ștefan Baiaram opens the scoring with a composed low finish after a midfield turnover.
• 28' — Alexandru Cîmpanu doubles the lead with a curling strike from the edge of the area.
• 52' — Elvir Koljić makes it 3-0, converting from close range after a corner was only half-cleared.
• 67' — Baiaram grabs his second, finishing a flowing counter-attack involving three passes.
• 84' — Koljić completes a composed team move to seal the 5-0 scoreline.

Tactical story: control in midfield, space on the flanks

Craiova set up in a 4-3-3 that became a 4-2-3-1 out of possession, and the shape worked perfectly. Their midfield trio pressed in a narrow block, forcing Sepsi's ball-carriers toward the touchline, where quick double-teams created turnovers. Every regain was followed by a vertical pass, and the home side's back four was repeatedly exposed in transition.

Sepsi began in a 4-2-3-1 but were stretched far too easily. Their full-backs pushed high in search of an equaliser, leaving large gaps behind them, and Craiova's wide forwards attacked those spaces relentlessly. By the hour mark the home side had abandoned their pressing structure, and the final two goals were a direct consequence of the game becoming open.

Standout performers

Ștefan Baiaram was the game's outstanding figure, scoring twice and providing the assist for the fourth goal. His movement between the lines repeatedly pulled Sepsi's centre-backs out of position. Elvir Koljić added a brace and won nearly every aerial duel, while Alexandru Cîmpanu combined creativity with a goal. In defence, Craiova's goalkeeper made two important first-half saves that preserved the clean sheet and allowed the visitors to manage the game calmly.

What the result means for the table

The three points lift CS Universitatea Craiova firmly into the Super Liga play-off conversation, strengthening their claim for a top-six finish and keeping them within touching distance of the leading group. For Sepsi OSK, the defeat is a serious setback: the club remains in the lower half of the standings and will need a rapid response to avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation play-out battle.

The result also underlines the gap in squad depth between the two sides. Craiova were able to rotate without losing rhythm, while Sepsi's substitutions struggled to alter the tempo of the match. With the Super Liga's split format rewarding consistency across the regular season, this is the kind of away win that can define a club's campaign.

Next up

Craiova return home with renewed confidence and a clear attacking identity, while Sepsi face a demanding schedule in which defensive solidity must be rediscovered quickly. The 5-0 scoreline will be remembered as one of the most one-sided results of the Romanian Super Liga season, and as a warning of what Craiova can produce when their front line clicks.