Romania round-up: Rapid race clear at the top

AFC Rapid Bucuresti extended their lead at the top of the table to 12 points with a goalless draw against CS Otelul Galati as the Divizia A season resumed on Saturday.

Gurita goes close
The nearest either side came to scoring was on the hour when Otelul's Mihai Gurita saw his effort strike the crossbar - but a point was enough for Rapid to stretch their lead as second-placed FC Dinamo Bucuresti were stunned 3-0 at home against Astra Ploiesti.

Marin's revenge
Dinamo's last victory against Astra came in November 2000, and Cristian Craciun and Mihai Dascalescu gave former Dinamo coach Florin Marin's new side a first-half lead before Gheorghe Petroesc's 51st-minute strike completed the scoring.

Late strikes
Elsewhere, goals late in each half from Nicolae Iorga and Marcel Sarmasan gave FC Brasov a 2-0 win against FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti and FC Universitatea Craiova drew 0-0 with FCM Bacau despite having Mugur Bolohan sent off shortly before half-time.

Njock heroics
In the day's other games, a Sorin Bucuroaia goal three minutes into added time salvaged a 1-1 draw for CF Gloria Bistrita 1922 against CF Sportul Studentesc, who had held the lead since Stelian Stancu's 18th-minute opener. FC UTA Arad also benefitted from a late goal, pipping Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt by the odd goal in three thanks to Jeremy Njock's 90th-minute strike.

Radu double
The biggest win of the weekend came at the Gheorghe Hagi stadium, where FC Farul Constanta were beaten 5-0 by FC National Bucuresti, for whom both Sergiu Radu and Slavisa Mitrovic scored twice.

Raducanu hat-trick
On Sunday, FC Steaua Bucuresti preserved their hopes of European competition next season with a 3-1 win against Politehnica AEK Timisoara - with all three goals coming from Claudiu Raducanu.