Moldova round-up: Sendrea mourned across country

The weekend's Divizia Nationala games were preceded by a minutes' silence, as the tragic news of the death of Moldovan Under-17 international Dumitru Sendrea shocked the country.

Brain haemorrhage
Sendrea died in a Chisinau hospital from a brain haemorrhage after returning from a trip to Lithuania with the U17 side. Meanwhile, as the action got under way, FC Zimbru Chisinau were held by fighting new boys FC Dacia Chisinau in a heated derby match. After a goalless draw that saw four dismissals and 12 yellow cards Zimbru chairman Nicolae Ciornii threatened to withdraw his team from the league due to unsatisfactory refereeing.

Six for Nistru
Another team due to play in the UEFA Cup this week, FC Nistru Otaci, routed FC Politehnica Chisinau 6-1. Nicolai Copisteanschi scored twice, while Leonid Kovalkov, Lilian Popescu, Andrei Matiura and Alexandr Malitschi were all on target in an emphatic victory.

Sheriff in charge
Both Tiraspol sides also won to move level at the summit of the league table. FC Sheriff Tiraspol beat FC Agro Chisinau 2-0, both goals courtesy of Cristian Tudor, while FC Tiraspol overcame FC Hîncesti by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Viorel Dinu and Evgheny Carabulea.