Sports flash

CFR Cluj on Wednesday reached the third qualifying  round of the Conference League, a UEFA Europe competition for football clubs. CFR defeated Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes 3-nil at home last week, before drawing 1-all on Wednesday at home. CFR, who are coached by the former Romanian international Dan Petrescu, were led 1-nil at half-time, following a goal by Genis Soldevila. The Andorran side then missed two more chances to score that could have put CFR's qualification in doubt. CFR equalised, however, 51 minutes into the match, when Ciprian Deac scored after a penalty kick. CFR will next play FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk, the Belarusian champions. After losing in the Champions League first qualifying round to the Slovenian side Maribor, Shakhtyor qualified straight into the third Conference League qualifying round as "lucky losers". CFR will first play them next Thursday in Sakarya, in Turkey, with the Belarusian side playing their home matches on neutral ground. The return match will take place on 11th August in Cluj.

Let's end this round-up with the summer European Youth Olympic Festival hosted by Banská Bystrica, in Slovenia. After three days of competitions, Romania won four medals. Its women's team made up of Amalia Puflea, Amalia Ghigoarţă and Sabrina Maneca Voinea won the gold medal in the team competition; Amalia Puflea won the silver in the all-round event, also in gymnastics; Ana Maria Vișan got a bronze medal in the discus throw and the swimmer  Aissia Claudia Prisecariu won the silver in 200 m backstroke. (CM)