Universitatea Craiova beats Egnatia 2-0 to win second straight Conference League match

A second straight home win

Universitatea Craiova beat Albanian side Egnatia 2-0 on Thursday evening, 5 November, in matchday three of the Conference League league phase, played at the Ion Oblemenco stadium in Craiova. The result was Craiova's second win in a row in the competition and lifted them to seven points, while Egnatia stayed on two. Craiova are eighth in the table and, if they stay there, would avoid the play-off round. Donald Robertson, a referee from Scotland, took charge of the match.

Goals in the first half

Craiova's first real chance came in the 11th minute, when Assad Al-Hamlawi broke on the counterattack and passed to Nicușor Bancu, whose shot went just wide of the bar. The opener came in the 24th minute: Bancu crossed from the left, Al-Hamlawi headed the ball, goalkeeper Dajsinani parried it into the path of Alexandru Cicâldău, and he finished. Linesmen first flagged offside, but the VAR review let the goal stand. Four minutes later Cicâldău was close to a second, but his shot from inside the box went straight at Dajsinani. In the 32nd minute Bancu struck from distance to make it 2-0, and Al-Hamlawi also missed a chance alone with the keeper in first-half stoppage time.

The second half and Bitri's red card

Craiova kept attacking after the restart. Cicâldău's effort in the 50th minute sailed over the bar, Bancu had a close-range opening in the 56th minute, and Simon Elisor failed to convert a cross from the captain in the 82nd minute. Egnatia, coached by Nevil Dede, had their own chance in the 58th minute when Albanese broke on the counterattack, but the move ended without a real finish. Eneo Bitri was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Elisor, in the 83rd or 84th minute depending on the report, which left Egnatia with ten men. In stoppage time Samuel Teles shot from the first minute of added time, but Dajsinani saved it, and the score stayed 2-0 to the finish.

Standings and next fixtures

Filipe Coelho's side have now played three matches. They drew 1-1 with Getafe on 15 October, won 3-1 at Inter Club d'Escaldes on 22 October and beat Egnatia this week. The Romanian champion remains unbeaten in the competition, and seven points leave Craiova eighth in the league phase. The next fixtures on the schedule are away at Brighton on 26 November, at 19:45, and away at Kairat Almaty on 10 December.