Everything but the cup

By Miron Goihman

FC Sheriff are sailing towards another Moldovan title, but there is one trophy they will not be lifting this season.

Cup defeat
For while Sheriff stretched their lead over second-placed FC Nistru Otaci to ten points over three games in November, they were knocked out of the Moldovan Cup with a 1-0 aggregate defeat by FC Dacia Chisinau.

Winning ways
Sheriff beat second-placed Nistru 2-0 on 6 November and underlined their dominance the following week with a 2-1 win against third-placed CSF Zimbru Chisinau. The latter club have failed to meet expectations despite the return of veteran striker Serghey Clescenco.

Major addition
One of Moldova's greatest ever players, Clescenco was a major addition to a youthful Zimbru side who, at the end of last season, had suggested they might be able to mount a serious challenge in 2004/05. However, with key players leaving in the summer, it has been a disappointing campaign.

The big gap
Perhaps of more concern to Moldovan football fans is the gulf in class between the First Division's top three sides and the rest of the league.

Relegation certainties
Going into the winter break, the clubs in fourth, fifth and sixth places - Dacia, FC Tiligul Tiraspol and FC Tiraspol - have little chance of catching the leaders while tellingly, the bottom two in the eight-team league - CS Steaua Chisinau and FC Unisport-Auto Chisinau - have won one match between them all term.

Exciting competition
However, if the league has been predictable, the Moldovan Cup at least has provided excitement, with Sheriff and holders Zimbru failing to reach the semi-finals. Nistru, Tiligul and Dacia are in the last four along with second division FC Politehnica Chisinau. At the start of the season, Politehnica's chairman promised promotion to the top flight and Moldovan Cup success - it is a pledge his side could yet keep.