Romania round-up: Home sweet home

History was made in Divizia A this weekend when all eight matches resulted in home wins - and not one of the visiting sides managed to find the net.

Late goals
The tie of the weekend was the Bucharest derby between runaway leaders FC Rapid Bucuresti and FC National Bucuresti. The hosts dominated the game but only secured victory with two goals in the last quarter of an hour. Midfield player Robert Ilyes headed Rapid's opener and, after National's Albert Duro was sent off for a second bookable offence, Ilyes wrapped up the points with his second.

Dinamo return
City rivals FC Dinamo Bucuresti bounced back from their defeat at the hands of CS Otelul Galati last week with a 1-0 win against FC Brasov, whose defender, Gyorgy Balint, scored the only goal of a tight game past his own goalkeeper.

Curca blunder
FC Steaua Bucuresti climbed into the top half of the table with a 1-0 triumph against FC Farul Constanta secured by Claudiu Raducanu's tap-in after Farul goalkeeper George Curca dropped a straightforward cross into the striker's path.

Five red cards
Elsewhere, FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti edged out FC UTA Arad 1-0 thanks to Ciprian Tanasa's 66th-minute strike but the game was overshadowed by five red cards, including one shown to Arges coach Ion Moldovan. FCM Bacau continued their fine run under new coach Ilie Dumitrescu with a 1-0 win against Sportul Studentesc Bucuresti. Catalin Cursaru scored the goal - his first at home this season.

Serban strike
In the day's other games, goals from Tiberiu Serban, Mihai Nemtanu and Marian Purica gave FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt a 3-0 victory against CF Gloria Bistrita 1922, Astra Ploiesti squeaked past Otelul with two goals in the last seven minutes and FC Universitatea Craiova beat FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara thanks to a sensational Pavel Badea strike.