Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
FC Bacău beat FCM Ungheni 1-0 in their first pre-season friendly at Stadionul Ruși-Ciutea. Octavian Vătavu's 82nd-minute own goal deflected from Andrei Pavel's shot proved decisive.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Playing their first friendly of the summer, the Romanian Liga 2 side controlled large spells of the match but struggled to break down a well-organised Ungheni defence. Bacău head coach Cristian Popovici used the fixture to rotate his entire squad, fielding 21 players across the 90 minutes — a clear sign that fitness and minutes were the priority over the scoreline.
The deadlock was broken only eight minutes from time. Midfielder Andrei Pavel let fly from distance and his shot took a decisive deflection off Ungheni's Octavian Vătavu, who could only divert the ball into his own net beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
FCM Ungheni, who compete in Moldova's Divizia A (second tier), could not muster a response in the closing stages. The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 win for the hosts.
The turning point
Vătavu's 82nd-minute own goal was the match's only moment of incision. Until then, both sides had largely cancelled each other out in a contest defined by pre-season rust and wholesale substitutions. Pavel's shot carried enough power that the deflection wrong-footed the Ungheni defence, and the visitors were unable to create a clear chance of their own in the remaining time.
Key performers
Andrei Pavel — The midfielder's 82nd-minute shot forced the own goal that decided the match. His willingness to shoot from range was Bacău's most direct threat.
Carlos Inglada — The Spanish defender made his debut for FC Bacău after joining from ACSM Politehnica Iași. He slotted into the backline and looked composed on the ball in his first outing in red and white.
Octavian Vătavu (FCM Ungheni) — Unfortunate to be the match-winner for the opposition; his deflection of Pavel's shot was an instinctive reaction at close range.
Player of the match: Andrei Pavel (FC Bacău).
By the numbers — interpreted
The provider data shows a solitary goal from a single decisive moment. No half-time score was recorded, reflecting the friendly nature of the contest. FC Bacău fielded 21 players — goalkeeper Anton and outfielders Gumenco, Baciu, Forisz, Agapi, Bordea, Cîrstean, P. Petre, Mitrică, Pavel, Banu, Ureche, Inglada, Albu, T. Axinte, Moise, Oasenegre, Burlacu, Luncașu, Coajă and R. Ciobanu all saw minutes. This wholesale rotation, standard in a first pre-season fixture, explains the lack of attacking fluency. Ungheni's squad list was not published.
What it means
FC Bacău (Liga 2, Romania) began their summer programme with a clean sheet and a win, however narrow. They face fellow Liga 2 side Metalul Buzău in their next friendly in the week ahead. FCM Ungheni (Divizia A, Moldova) used the match as a valuable cross-border test against a higher-ranked opponent. The scoreline itself carries minimal significance — pre-season form is notoriously unreliable — but the 90-minute run-out and the debut of Inglada are the lasting takeaways.
Verdict
A textbook early pre-season friendly: mass rotation, minimal attacking cohesion, and a single moment that separated the sides. Bacău will have tougher tests ahead as the competitive season approaches, but a win and a clean sheet in the first outing is exactly what the coaching staff would have wanted on the board.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 29 Jun 2026