Chindia Târgoviște produced one of the most emphatic performances of their Romanian Liga II campaign on Sunday afternoon, dismantling CSM Șelimbăr 4-0 at the Stadionul Eugen Popescu in a match that was effectively decided long before the final whistle.

The 16:00 kick-off promised a tight contest between two sides with ambitions of climbing the second-tier table, but the hosts set the tone inside the opening ten minutes and never allowed their visitors a foothold. By the interval the game was already slipping away from Șelimbăr, and the second half turned into a comfortable exhibition of control for the men in red and white.

Match overview

Chindia dominated possession and territory from the first whistle, pressing high up the pitch and forcing Șelimbăr into a string of hurried clearances. The hosts' midfield won the majority of second balls, and the front line repeatedly found space between a deep and increasingly stretched visiting defence.

The pattern of the match was clear: Chindia attacked in numbers, Șelimbăr dropped deeper, and the home side's patience in possession consistently broke the lines. Four goals were the least the home support could have expected from a performance that produced a steady flow of chances.

How the goals came

• 1-0: The opener arrived midway through the first half, created by a sharp piece of pressing that forced a turnover in midfield and finished with a low strike across the goalkeeper.
• 2-0: A well-worked set piece doubled the advantage before the break, with the delivery met at the near post and flicked beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
• 3-0: Early in the second half, Chindia's wide player cut inside and curled a precise effort into the far corner, ending any realistic hope of a Șelimbăr comeback.
• 4-0: The fourth came late on as a reward for relentless running, the substitute finishing from close range after another quick transition.

Tactical story

Chindia lined up with an aggressive shape that turned into a compact 4-4-2 out of possession. The two forwards split the Șelimbăr centre-backs, cutting off central passes, while the wide midfielders aggressively pushed up to pin the visiting full-backs inside their own half.

That structure forced Șelimbăr into long, hopeful balls forward that were comfortably dealt with by a disciplined Chindia back four. With each regain, the home side looked to attack quickly, mixing direct runs in behind with patient switches of play when the visitors managed to reorganise.

Șelimbăr's attempts to press higher after the interval backfired. Chindia simply played through the first line and attacked the vacated space, which is exactly how the third and fourth goals were created. It was a mature, controlled display from a side that is beginning to look like a genuine promotion contender.

Standout performers

Chindia's front line took the headlines, but the platform was built in midfield, where the hosts' central pair dominated duels and dictated the tempo. The right-sided attacker was a constant threat, combining with an overlapping full-back to repeatedly expose the visiting left flank.

At the back, the Chindia goalkeeper was barely tested, and the centre-back partnership handled everything thrown forward, winning headers and stepping into midfield to intercept loose passes. For Șelimbăr, the afternoon was one to forget, though their goalkeeper prevented an even heavier defeat with several sharp saves.

Liga II table impact

A 4-0 home win is worth more than three points in a league where goal difference so often decides the final promotion places. Chindia Târgoviște move forward with renewed momentum, boosting their scoring record and reinforcing a home ground that is becoming a difficult place for visiting teams to take anything from.

For CSM Șelimbăr, the defeat is a reminder of the gap still to be closed against the division's stronger sides. The visitors will need to tighten their defensive shape and be more courageous with the ball if they are to avoid similar afternoons away from home this season.