Universitatea Craiova dismantled ML Vitebsk 4-1 in Mezőkövesd, taking command of this Champions League first qualifying round tie on Wednesday night and handing M. Rădoi exactly the away cushion he demanded.
The tone was set in the 3-4-3 immediately. Oleksandr Romanchuk stepped out from the back line and found Ștefan Baiaram, who finished in the 4th minute to reward Craiova’s aggressive shape. M. Adiev’s 4-3-3 briefly flickered to life when Valeriy Bocherov released Valeriy Gromyko for the equaliser in the 20th minute, yet Vitebsk’s composure evaporated as soon as pressure hit their penalty area.
Assad Al-Hamlawi converted from the spot in the 24th minute and again in the 43rd minute, the forward showing nerve before being withdrawn at the 57th minute for Steven Nsimba. That change underlined Rădoi’s control of the tie: the starter secured the lead, the substitute was told to stretch a bruised back line. Gromyko’s frustration surfaced in a yellow card at 45+1 minutes, and Bocherov followed with his own caution in the 59th minute before being replaced four minutes later. Gromyko stayed on until the 72nd minute, when Denilho Cleonise entered as Adiev sought damage limitation rather than a route back.
Craiova’s wing-backs, Samuel Teles and Nicușor Bancu, kept pinning Vitebsk deep until Rădoi swapped in Carlos Mora and Tudor Băluță at the 67th minute to lock down midfield. Even as Steven Nsimba collected a booking at the 81st minute, the visitors never really lost control. Sergey Balanovich arrived in the 84th minute to stem the tide, only to collect his own yellow card at 90+2 minutes, and the contest ended as it began: with Craiova’s forwards punishing any loose touch. Monday Etim slid a pass to Nsimba, who capped the night in the 90+4th minute and vindicated his manager’s rotation.
Adiev’s 4-3-3 lacked the speed to trouble Adrian Rus and Nikola Stevanović once Craiova pushed the wing-backs forward, while Alexandru Cicâldău quietly ran the midfield tempo that Vitebsk never disrupted. The hosts now face a daunting return trip to Romania needing three unanswered goals just to force extra time. For Craiova, the job is not finished but the block of work has been done with ruthless efficiency.
Key Stats
- Goals: ML Vitebsk 1, Universitatea Craiova 4
- Penalties converted: Universitatea Craiova 2
- Yellow cards: Valeriy Gromyko 45+1', Valeriy Bocherov 59', Steven Nsimba 81', Sergey Balanovich 90+2'
- Substitutions that mattered: Steven Nsimba on 57', Carlos Mora on 67', Tudor Băluță on 67', Denilho Cleonise on 72'
Craiova now point toward the return leg with momentum, while Vitebsk must conjure something far bolder next week if this tie is to stay alive.
