Minerul Lupeni secured a 0:1 victory over Jiul Petroșani in the Romanian Cup semi-finals on 12 August 2026. The away side found the breakthrough and held on for a narrow win, moving one step closer to the final.
The result came as a surprise to many. Jiul had been in good form, winning four of their last five matches including a 4:0 victory over Unirea Dm and a 1:0 win against Metalurgicul Cogir just a week earlier. Minerul, by contrast, had drawn 0:0 with Caransebeș in their most recent outing and had lost both previous meetings with Jiul in 2025 and 2024.
The match report contains no minute-by-minute details or statistics. No goal scorer was recorded, and there are no figures for possession, shots, or expected goals. What we have is simply the scoreline and the fact that Minerul found a way through despite the odds.
This result changes the picture for both clubs. Minerul now advance to the final, while Jiul's season comes to an end in the semi-finals. The hosts had looked strong in recent weeks, but the cup provides no second chances.