Commonwealth Cup: Late goal caps Sheriff success

Moldovans FC Sheriff Tiraspol have become the first non-Russian or Ukrainian team to win the Commonwealth Cup, beating Latvian champions FC Skonto 2-1 in the final in Moscow.

Tudor's early goal
Skonto, beaten finalists in 2001, had ended Sheriff's previous best run last season in the last eight with a 4-2 win. But Sheriff were celebrating after just 29 seconds when Romanian Cristian Tudor scored his ninth goal of the tournament.

Penalty equaliser
And they were on top for most of the first half, Yuri Priganiuc hitting the crossbar from 30 metres out. However, the scores were level at the break after Sheriff's Dadu handled in his own area and Skonto’s Mihails Zemlinkis converted the penalty.

Patula close
Both teams showed attacking ambition after the break, and Sheriff striker Eugeni Patula went close on 56 minutes when he shot past an empty net.

Dramatic end
But with extra-time only a minute away, Sheriff won a free-kick, from which Valentin Niculescu forced Skonto goalkeeper Andrejs Piedels to parry, and Ion Testimitanu was on hand to convert the rebound.

Third winners
The victory means Sheriff become only the third team to win the tournament in its eleven years history, after six triumphs for FC Spartak Moskva and four for FC Dynamo Kyiv - neither of who were playing this year after failing to retain their domestic titles.

'Very happy'
Sheriff coach Gabi Balint said after the game: "I am very happy to have won this tournament – I only pity the fact we could not play more attractive football in the final because we were so tired after previous games."

'Quick goal shocked us'
Beaten Skonto coach Aleksandrs Starkovs admitted: "The quick goal shocked us and even the most experienced players could not recover. However, considering the amount of players we sold this pre-season, we did well in Moscow."