Voluntari secured a 1-0 victory over UTA Arad in the third round of the Liga I, with the decisive goal arriving just after half-time. M. Schieb found the net in the 47th minute, breaking a stalemate that had characterised much of the opening period. The home side held on despite being outnumbered in possession and outplayed in attack.
The turning point came when Schieb's effort fell past the goalkeeper in the 47th minute. UTA Arad pushed forward after that, controlling 63 per cent of possession but managing only one shot on target from eleven attempts. Voluntari, by contrast, were sharper when it mattered, registering three shots on target from six efforts.
There were four substitutions across the second half, beginning with R. Odada for UTA Arad in the 55th minute. Voluntari brought on M. Tzionis in the 65th and G. Merloi shortly after, while A. Padula joined the home side in the 73rd minute. I. Gheorghe was replaced in the 77th minute, and R. Gutea came on late for Voluntari in the 87th.
Discipline was tight throughout. I. Gheorghe received a yellow card in the 51st minute, followed by S. Mino in the 76th and D. Pospelov in the 82nd. D. Dumbravanu was shown a second caution in stoppage time, bringing the total to four yellows between the two sides.
The statistics tell a familiar story. UTA Arad launched 138 attacks and completed 430 passes, yet created zero big chances. Voluntari managed 64 attacks with 228 successful passes, winning seven of their 22 aerial duels compared to the visitors' 15. The shot accuracy figures — 0.33 for the hosts versus 0.06 for the visitors — underscore the difference in final execution.
Voluntari remain in 15th place with eight points from eight games, while UTA Arad sit 13th on nine points from nine fixtures. The result extends Voluntari's recent form, which had seen wins against Farul and losses to ChF97 Cluj, while UTA Arad's record includes draws with Oțelul and Istria 1961. Three points in a tight contest may not look like much, but in this league, margins are everything.