ACS Progresul Draganesti produced the standout result of the Romanian Liga III weekend, winning 3-2 away at CS Paulesti on 3 October 2026 after a five-goal thriller that swung one way, then the other, before the visitors snatched the points late. The victory keeps Draganesti firmly in the promotion conversation in their series, while Paulesti are left to rue a spirited comeback that ultimately counted for nothing.

Match Overview

Played under the lights with a 20:00 kick-off, the contest had everything a third-tier fixture can offer: early goals, a genuine fightback, and a decisive strike in the closing minutes. Draganesti started the sharper of the two sides and built a two-goal cushion before the half-hour mark, only for Paulesti to drag themselves level with a much more direct second-half display. Just when the game looked set to finish all square, the visitors found the winning goal and took all three points back on the road.

• Final score: CS Paulesti 2 – 3 ACS Progresul Draganesti
• Competition: Romanian Liga III
• Date: 3 October 2026
• Result: Away win, both teams scoring freely

Key Moments

Draganesti's bright opening was rewarded when Florin Tudor latched onto a loose ball just outside the area and drove a low effort beyond the Paulesti goalkeeper to make it 1-0. The lead was doubled shortly afterwards, this time from a well-worked move down the right that ended with Marius Barbu converting at the back post.

Paulesti needed a response and got one before the interval, Andrei Popescu reacting quickest to a half-cleared corner and firing through a crowded penalty box to halve the deficit. That goal transformed the mood inside the ground, and the hosts carried the momentum into the second period.

The equaliser arrived midway through the half and was no more than Paulesti deserved. Mihai Ionescu turned his marker on the edge of the area and curled a fine strike into the far corner to make it 2-2, sparking loud celebrations and raising the prospect of a complete turnaround.

But Draganesti, who had looked rattled for long spells, regrouped. A set-piece delivery with the game entering its final stages was only half-cleared, and Daniel Enache arrived at the perfect moment to stab the ball home for 3-2. Paulesti pressed hard for a second equaliser, throwing bodies forward, but the visitors defended their box with discipline to see out the closing minutes.

Tactical Story

Draganesti's early control came from pressing high and forcing Paulesti into hurried clearances, which created the turnovers that led to both opening goals. Once the home side adjusted and started playing over the press rather than through it, the game flipped: Paulesti won second balls, pushed their full-backs higher and pinned the visitors back for a 30-minute spell.

The decisive tactical detail was Draganesti's willingness to sit deeper and defend crosses rather than chase the game at 2-2. That patience earned them the set-piece opportunity that decided the match, and it is the kind of game management that tends to matter a great deal once the Liga III season reaches its business end.

Standout Players

• Daniel Enache (Draganesti): Not just the match-winner — his late runs into the box were a constant problem for the Paulesti back line.
• Florin Tudor (Draganesti): Set the tone with the opener and linked play well in the first half.
• Mihai Ionescu (Paulesti): The best player on the pitch in the second half, combining energy with a genuine moment of quality for the equaliser.
• Andrei Popescu (Paulesti): Reliable in both boxes and a genuine set-piece threat.

What It Means

Three points away from home in a fixture like this can shape a season. Draganesti will take confidence from winning a game in which they were second-best for long stretches, a sign of a squad with enough resilience to grind out results when the performance dips. Paulesti, meanwhile, will feel they did enough to earn at least a draw and will be frustrated that a two-goal recovery ended in defeat. The result adds another chapter to what is already shaping up to be a tightly contested Liga III campaign, where away wins of this nature often prove decisive in the final standings.