Romania round-up: Dinamo keep up pressure

FC Dinamo Bucuresti kept up the pressure at the top of the Divizia A table after a 2-2 draw against city rivals FC Steaua Bucuresti.

Pole position
FC National Bucuresti remain in pole position with only three rounds of matches left to play, but second-placed Dinamo maintained the one-point deficit in a thrilling encounter.

Title battle
Steaua were missing three key players in defender Marius Baciu, Erik Lincar and Eugen Trica and it now seems certain that National and Dinamo will fight it out for the title in the remaining matches. FC Rapid Bucuresti, currently in third, Steaua and CS Otelul Galati will battle for third place, which brings with it a berth in the UEFA Cup.

Munteanu opener
Both sides finished the match with ten men after what proved to be a tense match at the Steaua stadium. The hosts made the better start and Catalin Lita shot narrowly wide in the second minute. However, Dinamo opened the scoring two minutes later, as Vlad Munteanu converted from seven metres.

Raducanu equaliser
Steaua refused to give in and equalised through Claudiu Raducanu in the 15th minute after superb work by Catalin Lita. Dinamo regained the lead in the 17th minute, when defender Bogdan Onut scored from eight metres after Vlad Munteanu had found him with a free-kick.

Luca the hero
Both teams wasted numerous scoring chances, but it was Steaua who had the last word, when Florentin Dumitru provided the perfect cross for Marius Luca in the 77th minute. Two minutes later, Steaua substitute Pompiliu Stoica was sent off and Dinamo captain Giani Kirita was also shown a red card in stoppage time.