Sheriff secure double

Panama defender Gilberto Walter scored a 'golden goal' in extra-time as FC Sheriff Tiraspol edged out FC Nistru Otaci 3-2 to win the Moldovan Cup final today.

Chidi sent off
Walter knocked in a rebound from close range in the 96th minute to give Sheriff their third cup triumph and second straight league and cup double despite playing the last 42 minutes with ten men after Nigerian defender Odia Chidi was sent off in the 54th minute.

Barsuc equaliser
Georgian Vazha Tarkhnishvili opened the scoring for Sheriff with a 34th-minute penalty, but Alexandru Blajco equalised eight minutes later. Another Panamanian international Roberto Brown put Sheriff ahead once again just before the interval, but Nistru equalised through Iulian Barsuc with ten minutes left in normal time before Walter's extra-time effort won the day.

Four final losses
It was Sheriff's second win over Nistru in ten days after they beat the Otachi side 3-0 to clinch the league title with six matches remaining. Nistru, who hit the post five times and missed a penalty in the second half of today's match, have now lost on all four appearances in the Moldovan Cup finals - twice in extra-time and twice in a penalty shoot-out.

Sheriff look to strengthen side
"I guess it's just our fate," said Nistru coach Alexandru Matsura. "But we'll try again, maybe we can finally win the cup on our fifth attempt." Meanwhile, Sheriff's Romanian coach Mihai Stoichita was already looking ahead to next season. "I want to significantly strengthen our squad for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers," he said. Stoichitah already has two Panamanians, two Ukrainians, two Nigerians and one Georgian playing for him and said he plans to bring five more top players from Panama to Tiraspol.