CSA Steaua Bucureşti vs Popești-Leordeni

Camara's 77th-minute goal — the only shot on target that found the net — decided a contest that had been heading for a goalless draw. Popești-Leordeni had frustrated Steaua for 76 minutes with a compact defensive shape, and the breakthrough came from a moment of individual quality from Caldieraro in midfield.

Sekou Camara (Steaua) — The forward scored the only goal of the game, a cool finish from Caldieraro's pass in the 77th minute. His movement in the box had been a persistent threat throughout the second half.

Pedro Caldieraro (Steaua) — The Brazilian midfielder came off the bench and provided the decisive assist, sliding a pass through for Camara to score. His introduction changed the game's dynamic.

Achiriloaei (Popești-Leordeni) — The Popești goalkeeper kept Steaua at bay for 76 minutes with a composed performance, making several saves to keep the scoreline level before Camara's strike.

The 1-0 scoreline reflects the pattern of a pre-season friendly where both sides prioritised fitness over risk. Steaua's first-half struggles against a newly-promoted Popești side — who won Liga 3's Serie 3 in 2025/26 — suggest Oprița's side still have work to do in attack after a pre-season that included a 0-4 thrashing by SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea on 18 July. Popești, meanwhile, showed defensive organisation that bodes well for their Liga 2 debut.

This was Steaua's sixth and final pre-season friendly of the summer. Their record reads: 2-1 vs CSL Ștefăneștii de Jos, 2-2 vs Concordia Chiajna, 4-5 vs CS Afumați, 2-0 vs CS Tunari, 0-4 vs SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea, and 1-0 vs Popești-Leordeni. The mixed results — including two heavy defeats — highlight the inconsistency Oprița must address before the real action starts.

Steaua originally scheduled this fixture against CSM Slatina, but the opponent was changed because the two clubs face each other in the opening round of the Liga 2 season, per the club's official website. Steaua now open their Liga 2 campaign at home against CSM Slatina on 2 August 2026.

Popești-Leordeni — who finished their pre-season with a 5-1 win over CSM Săcele, a 1-1 draw with ASA Târgu Mureș, a 2-0 win over Olimpic Zărnești, a 1-1 draw with KSE Târgu Secuiesc, and a 1-4 loss to CSM Slatina before this fixture — begin their debut Liga 2 season away at SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea.

A predictable pre-season contest that served its purpose: fitness minutes for both sides and a confidence-boosting win for Steaua after a heavy defeat the previous week. The real test starts on 2 August, when Oprița's side will need to show more attacking incision against Slatina than they managed for 76 minutes here.