Bancu’s Late Stunner Seals Craiova’s 1-0 Win Over Vitebsk

Nicolae Bancu sent the Stadionul Ion Oblemenco into raptures with a 91st-minute winner as Universitatea Craiova edged ML Vitebsk 1-0 in a tense Champions League first qualifying round clash where patience finally paid off.

Craiova’s Calculated Gamble

Filipe Coelho’s triple substitution at halftime—bringing on Heriberto Tavares, Sergiu Elisor and Oleg Romanchuk—shook the hosts awake after a cagey first half that saw Monday Etim and Assad Al-Hamlawi booked for tactical fouls. The Romanian side began to turn their 49% possession into tangible threat, with Alexandru Cicâldău and Carlos Mora stretching Vitebsk’s compact 4-1-4-1 through tireless flank play.

Vitebsk’s Defensive Discipline

Mikhail Martinovich’s Belarusians absorbed pressure admirably—their backline making a staggering 24 clearances—but offered nothing going forward, failing to register a single shot off target. The introduction of towering striker Valeriy Zhuk after 76 minutes nearly paid dividends when his knockdown found Artem Kontsevoy, only for Laurențiu Popescu to smother the shot—Vitebsk’s only effort on target all night.

The Moment of Magic

Just as extra time loomed, substitute Ana Mekvabishvili danced past two challenges on the left and whipped in a cross that Bancu met with a downward header, the ball bouncing up viciously past Pavel Pavlyuchenko to ignite pandemonium. The Romanian international’s third goal in European competition couldn’t have come at a more vital moment.

What This Means

Craiova’s narrow victory—secured despite being outpossessed—sets them up perfectly for the return leg in Belarus next week, where Vitebsk must now abandon their defensive approach. For Martinovich’s men, this cruel late blow leaves their Champions League dreams hanging by a thread, requiring nothing less than attacking revolution at the Vitebsky CSK.