The night a Romanian club shocked Europe and caught UEFA’s eye

December 12, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

Why this match mattered beyond football fans

European club competitions are among the most watched sporting events in the world, often dominated by teams from wealthier leagues such as England, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Romanian clubs rarely attract continental headlines, especially against established opponents like Feyenoord.

That changed after a dramatic Europa League match played in Bucharest, where FCSB produced an unlikely victory that resonated well beyond the stadium. According to Digi Sport, the game quickly became one of the most talked about fixtures of the competition’s sixth round.

A chaotic night in Bucharest

FCSB defeated Feyenoord 4,3 in Matchday 6 of the Europa League league phase, a group style format introduced by UEFA to increase competitiveness and global interest. The match featured multiple lead changes and long stretches where the Romanian champions appeared overwhelmed.

Goals from Siyabonga Ngezana, Mihai Toma, Mamadou Thiam and a stoppage time strike by Florin Tănase completed the turnaround. Feyenoord had earlier taken control through goals by Casper Tengstedt, Quentin Timber and Leo Sauer.

According to Digi Sport, this was only FCSB’s second win in the current league phase, achieved at a point when qualification hopes looked close to disappearing.

The statistic that made UEFA react

One day after the match, UEFA highlighted a detail that stood out even by elite European standards. According to UEFA’s official communication channels, FCSB scored four goals from four shots on target.

Such efficiency is extremely rare at this level, where teams often need dozens of attempts to break through. The late goals also transformed the National Arena into a scene of prolonged celebration, underlining the emotional weight of the result.

For observers unfamiliar with European football, this efficiency explains why the match drew attention far beyond Romania.

Perspective from inside the club

Former Romania international Dorin Goian, who played 153 matches for FCSB during his career, offered perspective on the result. Speaking to digisport.ro on his 45th birthday, Goian admitted he had not expected such a comeback.

He said the turning point came after Feyenoord’s third goal, a moment when belief seemed lost. Goian praised the players for continuing to push forward and emphasized the significance of beating a club that regularly finishes near the top of the Dutch league.

According to Goian, victories like this shape how clubs and countries are perceived in European competitions.

What this result says about Romanian football

Beyond the scoreline, the match reopened a broader discussion about competitiveness in European football. Clubs from smaller leagues often struggle for visibility and financial stability, making results like this rare and symbolically important.

According to Digi Sport, the win has already improved FCSB’s standing within the Europa League table and strengthened Romania’s overall coefficient ranking, a metric that influences how many teams a country can send into European competitions.

For a single night, a club few outside Eastern Europe regularly follow managed to remind the continent that surprises still exist.

Sources, Digi Sport, UEFA official communications

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