Popeshti-Lărdăuți saw off Bior Oradea 3-2 in the sixth round of Liga II on Saturday. The hosts moved clear at home, closing the gap on the mid-table while the visitors slipped further behind. And here's the thing — it wasn't the possession or the attack figures that decided it.
Q. Taiwo struck twice for the home side, opening the scoring in the ninth minute before doubling his tally just before half-time. Bior Oradea answered through I. Filip's penalty in the 50th minute, but A. Capraru restored the lead with a goal in the 66th. A. Bota pulled one back late on, but the damage was done.
Both sides made three changes at the break, with Popeshti-Lărdăući bringing on A. Boiciuc, N. Modan and T. Calin alongside A. Cruceru. Bior Oradea responded with R. Iacob and M. Neicutescu at the hour mark, then added A. Popa in the 77th. There were six yellow cards in total, two for each side, with the hosts showing more discipline when it mattered.
To be fair, the numbers tell a different story. Bior Oradea had 56 per cent possession and 103 attacks compared with 89 for the hosts, yet only managed four shots on target. Popeshti-Lărdăuți were more efficient, converting three of their ten attempts into goals. By then it was clear that chances had been taken and missed in equal measure.
The result keeps Popeshti-Lărdăuți in fourth place with 12 points from six games, unbeaten with three wins and three draws. Bior Oradea remain 15th on six points, with just one victory to their name. Eight points separate the two sides now, and the hosts have nothing to lose going forward.