FC Botoșani delivered an efficient away performance to knock out Selimbar from the Romanian Cup, sealing a 3-1 victory at the Stadionul Măgura on August 20, 2026. The Liga I side had to weather an early storm from the hosts before their superior quality shone through in a contest that produced plenty of cup-tie drama.

Match Overview

Selimbar, competing as the underdog, started with genuine belief and gave the Botoșani defense an uncomfortable opening 20 minutes. Their reward came in the 17th minute when a well-worked corner was met with a firm header that gave the visiting goalkeeper no chance. The home crowd sensed a potential cup upset, but Botoșani's response was immediate and clinical.

Rather than panic, the visitors gradually took control of midfield and began to pin Selimbar back. The equalizer arrived before the half-hour mark through a precise low finish after a quick counter-attack, and Botoșani never looked back from that point. Another goal before halftime, this time from a set-piece variation, turned the tie firmly in their favor and left the hosts with a mountain to climb.

Key Moments

• 17' – Selimbar stun the visitors: A powerful header from a corner gives the home side a shock lead.
• 28' – Botoșani strike back: A slick passing move is finished calmly inside the box to level the score.
• 41' – Set-piece sucker punch: Botoșani score again from a rehearsed free-kick routine to take the lead before halftime.
• 67' – Late insurance goal: A third goal on the counter kills off any remaining hope of a Selimbar comeback.

Tactical Story

Selimbar set up compactly and tried to exploit Botoșani’s high line with direct balls toward their physical strikers. That approach worked initially but became predictable as the match wore on. Botoșani adjusted by dropping their midfield deeper and inviting pressure, then using the pace of their wide attackers to devastating effect on the break.

The Romanian Cup has long been a platform for lower-league teams to test themselves against top-flight opposition, and Selimbar showed flashes of quality. However, the difference in finishing and tactical discipline proved decisive. Botoșani’s experience in managing the tempo of a cup tie after taking the lead was evident, and they closed the game out with relative comfort.

Standout Performers

While the whole Botoșani side grew into the match, the performance of their attacking midfielder was particularly noteworthy. He was involved in two of the three goals and constantly found space between the lines. The defensive unit also deserves credit for standing firm after Selimbar’s early onslaught.

For Selimbar, the goal scorer and their captain showed determination throughout, but they were ultimately left to rue missed chances in the opening quarter of the match.

Season and Cup Impact

For Botoșani, this result maintains their momentum in the domestic cup and gives the squad much-needed confidence heading into the latter stages of the campaign. The Romanian Cup offers a realistic route to European qualification for many teams, and Botoșani will now have their eyes set on a deep run.

Selimbar exit with pride intact after pushing a top-division opponent, but this match also highlights the gap that remains between the leagues. The visitors progress to the next round, while the home side must now turn their focus back to their league campaign.