Steaua Bucharest saw off Cicseredi 5:2 in the Romanian Cup on Thursday evening. The result settles nothing in the league standings, where both sides sit on zero points after zero games, but it does mark a statement of intent from the hosts.
Steaua came out with pace and didn't look back. Cicseredi, who had been on a losing streak against Hungarian opposition in their last five outings, simply couldn't find their rhythm. The visitors took a while to settle, and by then the deficit was already mounted.
The recent form tells a story. Steaua's last run included a 17:1 thrashing of Sportul Studenţesc and back-to-back 4:3 wins over CSM Galaţi. Cicseredi, meanwhile, had lost four of their last five, including heavy defeats to Győr. The gap in confidence was visible from the first whistle.
Cicseredi did manage two goals, which says something about their attacking intent even in defeat. But Steaua's five responses showed they were in no mood to share the spoils. The visitors may have been dangerous on the counter, but they couldn't contain the home side's tempo.
This was a cup fixture, so the league table doesn't shift. But for Steaua, it's a chance to build momentum before the competitive season gets underway. Cicseredi will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid another early exit.