The Romanian Liga II served up one of the most dramatic scorelines of the early autumn on 19 September 2026, as ASU Politehnica Timișoara came away from Stadionul Comunal Popești-Leordeni with a remarkable 4-3 victory over Gloria Popești-Leordeni. Seven goals, four lead changes and a stoppage-time winner made it a night that will be remembered long after the final whistle.

Match Overview

The hosts went into the fixture looking to build on a steady start to their Liga II campaign, while Politehnica arrived in the capital's southern outskirts with ambitions of climbing into the upper half of the table. What followed was a contest that refused to settle, with both defences struggling badly and the midfield battle swinging from end to end for the full 90 minutes.

Politehnica dominated the opening half-hour. Their high press forced Gloria into a string of hurried clearances, and the visitors were two goals to the good before the interval loomed. Yet the home side recovered in spectacular fashion after the break, levelling the match and briefly looking the more likely winners before a clinical late finish decided it.

Key Moments

• 12' — Andrei Munteanu opened the scoring for Politehnica, arriving late at the back post to convert a low cross from the right.
• 34' — Cătălin Vârlan doubled the lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box after Gloria failed to clear a corner.
• 45+2' — Denis Bălan pulled one back for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, turning sharply inside the area and firing low past the goalkeeper.
• 58' — Gloria were level. Bălan turned provider, sliding the ball through for Robert Ilie, who finished coolly one-on-one.
• 71' — Politehnica restored their advantage when Munteanu grabbed his second of the match, pouncing on a defensive hesitation.
• 84' — The hosts responded again, Bălan completing a superb individual display with his second goal of the evening to make it 3-3.
• 90+3' — Denis Farcaș broke Gloria hearts, driving into the box in the final minute of added time and beating the goalkeeper at the near post.

Tactical Story

Politehnica's 4-2-3-1 was built around quick transitions, and for much of the first half it worked perfectly. Their two holding midfielders sat deep to protect the back four, allowing the wide players to attack at speed. The problem came after the interval, when Gloria pushed their full-backs high and began overloading the flanks, forcing Politehnica into a series of desperate defensive interventions.

Gloria's switch to a more direct approach after the break transformed the game. Long diagonals towards the right channel repeatedly isolated Politehnica's left-back, and the home side's two-goal comeback was built almost entirely on second balls won in that area. In the end, however, their willingness to commit bodies forward left them exposed, and Farcaș's late winner was the direct consequence of a counter-attack launched from a Gloria corner.

Standout Players

Denis Bălan was the outstanding performer on the pitch, contributing two goals and an assist in a losing cause. His movement between the lines caused Politehnica constant problems, and his composure in front of goal kept Gloria alive when the match appeared to be slipping away.

For the visitors, Andrei Munteanu's brace proved decisive, while Farcaș's late intervention underlined the value of a squad willing to keep running until the final seconds. Politehnica's goalkeeper also produced two important saves at 3-3 to keep his side level before the winner arrived.

Season Impact

The three points lift ASU Politehnica Timișoara into a stronger position in the Liga II standings, reinforcing their reputation as one of the more dangerous away sides in the division. For Gloria Popești-Leordeni, the defeat is a painful one, particularly given the quality of their second-half response, but the attacking display offers plenty of encouragement for the fixtures ahead.

Liga II's regular season rewards consistency above all else, with the top places carrying promotion ambitions towards the SuperLiga and the lower reaches threatening relegation. Results like this one — high-scoring, unpredictable and settled in stoppage time — are exactly why the Romanian second tier remains one of the most entertaining competitions in the region.