Romania round-up: National stay top

National power
Goals on nine and 15 minutes from Slavisa Mitrovic ensured National would keep their one-point advantage over FC Dinamo Bucuresti. And after Farul had a strong penalty claim turned down, substitute Sabin Ilie made the final score 3-0 with a late third.

Wins for Dinamo, Steaua 
Dinamo also had a routine victory, 1-0 at home to CF Gloria Bistrita 1922, courtesy of Claudiu Dragan's eight-minute strike. Meanwhile, reigning champions FC Steaua Bucuresti climbed into third place with a fourth straight win, 3-0 at bottom club UM Timisoara. Steaua owed their success to goalkeeper Martin Tudor, and were also grateful for a missed penalty by Timisoara's Calin Mada. Mirel Radoi, Claudiu Raducanu and Silvian Cristescu were the men on target for Victor Piturca's side. Steaua are six points behind National and five behind Dinamo, who they meet on Sunday.

Rapid decline
But with four games to play, FC Rapid Bucuresti's part in the title race looks a small one. The fourth-placed team are eight points off the summit after a 1-1 home draw with FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti. Augustin Chirita cancelled out a first-half blockbuster by Rapid's Daniel Nicolae. CS Otelul Galati, the team in fifth position, went down 1-0 at struggling FC Brasov. George Ogararu divided the sides, and his goal lifted the home team four points clear of the relegation zone.

Sportul crash
But CF Sportul Studentesc remain in trouble following a 3-2 home defeat by FC Universitatea Craiova. Four players were sent off in the last five minutes - including Sportul's Daniel Irimia, George Farmache and Romeo Paduret - but by then the game had been won by Cosmin Barcauan's goal for Universitatea.

Petrolul climb
Second-bottom FC Petrolul Ploiesti closed the gap on Sportul to two points with a 3-1 triumph at FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. Orlando Gheorghe was the Petrolul hero with two goals. Meanwhile, Petrolul's neighbours SC Astra Ploiesti edged past FCM Bacau thanks to Dragos Mihalache's late effort.