Nistru hope to end Sheriff record

FC Nistru Otaci will try to break the winning record of newly-crowned champions FC Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldovan Cup finals in Chisinau today.

Second straight title
Sheriff, who have won the two previous finals they have appeared in, will be hoping to complete a double after winning the Divizia Nazionala for a second straight year a week ago.

Win on penalties
Vazha Tarkhanishvili and Ruslan Barberos are the only two players in the Sheriff squad who were at the club for their previous cup final victories in 1998/99 and 2000/01. This year's final is a rematch of the 2000/01 game, when Sheriff overcame Nistru on penalties after a goalless draw.

Unlucky Podgaetsci
While Sheriff have won both finals they have appeared in, Nistru have failed to win the trophy in the three previous finals they have reached. Anatoly Podgaetsci, a defender for Nistru, will probably have the biggest motivation of all as he has played in all three of Nistru's final defeats - to add to Padgaetsci's woes, he has also lost a cup final while playing with FC Constructorul Cioburciu.

Maciura eyes third title
Nistru head coach Alexander Maciura has a fine cup pedigree however which his side will be hoping helps them break their jinx. He won the Moldovan Cup with FC Tiligul Tiraspol in 1994/95 and FC Constructorul Cioburciu in 1995/96 and should Nistru win Wednesday's match, Maciura will become the first coach in Moldovan football to win the cup three times. Sheriff's Romanian head coach Mihai Stoichita is leading a side in the final for the first time.