Romania round-up: Dinamo net vital win

After five Divizia A games without a win, leaders FC Dinamo Bucuresti finally managed to collect a victory by overcoming FC Universitatea Craiova 2-0 on Wednesday.

Late dismissal
Claudiu Niculescu opened the scoring in the eleventh minute from three metres out after a fine cross from Ionel Danciulescu. In injury time of the second half, Dinamo made it 2-0 thanks to substitute Florentin Petre, whose powerful shot from nine metres found the top corner of the net. And moments later, Universitatea's Victor Iacob received his second yellow card of the game for protesting to the referee

Penalty stop
Dinamo stay top of the Romanian first division on 47 points, but all of their nearest challengers also managed to gain three points. Second-placed FC National Bucuresti won 1-0 at bottom of the table UM Timisoara thanks to Gabriel Popescu tenth-minute strike via a free-kick. However, they did have to rely on Bogdan Vintila saving a Cosmin Bar penalty to secure the win.

Five-star
Third-placed FC Rapid Bucuresti, on 42 points, won 5-0 at home against CF Gloria Bistrita 1922 thanks to strikes from Robert Ilyes, Marius Sumudica and Florin Bratu. Gloria's central defender, Vasile Jula, was dismissed in the 51st minute for handling the ball on the goal line, an action that allowed Sumudica to score from the penalty spot.

Paying the penalty
In fourth place are CS Otelul Galati with 42 points after a 2-1 at FC Petrolul Ploiesti. Petrolul captain, Dinu Todoran, opened the scoring in the third-minute from the penalty-spot, but Otelul were the better side throughout and equalised through Danut Oprea on 16 minutes and eight minutes later, Bogdan Andone won the match from the penalty spot.

Late drama
FCM Bacau won a dramatic match 3-2 at FC Farul Constanta. Farul's Florin Lungu was sent off in the ninth minute, but Farul pressed forward and Ion Barbu gave them the lead in the 15th minute. Bacau responded in the second period with a Catalin Cursar header in the 59th minute and three minutes later, Valentin Badoi made it 2-1 for the visitors. However, Farul's Sorin Teican appeared to have earned his side a point three minutes from time with an equalising goal, but in the 90th minute Badoi scored his second and the winner.

Double dismissal
FC Steaua Bucuresti beat FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt 1-0 thanks to a late Adrian Neaga strike, their second successive win without conceding a goal. In the relegation zone, CF Sportul Studentesc Bucuresti lost at home to SC Astra Ploiesti 2-1. Daniel Movila opened the scoring for the visitors, before Florin Maxim equalised. Astra's Aurelian Dumitru scored the winner. Sportul's Ocravian Chihaia and Astra's Flavius Lingurar were both sent off for fighting.

Other game
In the last match of the day, FC Brasov beat FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti 2-0, with Emerich Vascko and Robert Dani scoring the decisive goals.