Romania round-up: Leaders beaten in Bucuresti

FC Rapid Bucuresti remain on top of Divizia A despite being beaten 2-1 by city rivals FC Steaua Bucuresti on Sunday.

Piturca delight
Steaua midfield player Marian Aliuta got new coach Victor Piturca's reign off to a good start by converting a 30th-minute opportunity and although Florin Bratu equalised six minutes into the second half, Ngassan Falemi hit a 71st-minute winner for Steaua, who climbed to fourth.

Sub saviour
In the day's other game, a last-minute goal from FC Farul Constanta substitute Alexandru Baltoi was enough to give his side victory at FC Universitatea Craiova. The visitors had been reduced to ten men once Marcel Abaluta had been dismissed, but nevertheless rallied to find a winner at the death.

Red mist
On Saturday, CF Gloria Bistrita 1922 remained in second place following a goalless draw at bottom club FCM Bacau. But the day's most intense encounter took place in the Astra stadium where SC Astra Ploiesti beat FC National Bucuresti by the odd goal in five - and no fewer than eleven yellow cards and three red cards were shown. Astra opened the scoring inside three minutes through Daniel Costescu but were pegged back on the 17-minute mark when Boris Keca tapped home from close range after Gigel Coman's free-kick had struck the post.

Parvulescu off
National's physio Vasile Parvulescu was ordered from the touchline after verbally harassing the referee but the scores remained level until five minutes after half-time when Orlando Gheorghe put Astra 2-1 to the good. Daniel Costescu further extended the lead on the hour and things went from bad to worse for the visitors, who had Coman sent off for a second bookable offence with 21 minutes remaining. Gabriel Caramarin pulled a goal back for National, whose player-coach Dan Petrescu was told to leave the bench by the referee in the dying minutes.

Brasov recovery
Elsewhere, FC Brasov came back from two goals down to beat CS Otelul Galati 3-2 thanks to goals from Mihai Stere, Cosmin Bodea and Mugurel Buga. Otelul, who had gone ahead through strikes from Mihai Gurita and Adrian Iordache, were reduced to ten men when Ionut Badea was sent off six minutes from time.

Danciulescu delight
Ionel Danciulescu's hat-trick helped FC Dinamo Bucuresti to a 5-0 victory against FC UTA Arad. Danciulescu converted penalties either side of an 82nd-minute strike after goals from Florentin Petre and Cosmin Barcauan had put the home side two goals up.

Dica decisive
Meanwhile, a solitary Nicolae Dica goal gave FC Arges Pitesti a 1-0 away win at FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt and FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara beat CF Sportul Studentesc 3-2.