Sports weekend

Four Romanian football teams on Thursday played their scheduled games as part of the Conference League's European competition. Two of the teams won their confrontations, one team succeeded a draw, while the fourth team sustained a defeat, away from home. Emerging as winners were the teams that played their home fixtures. Holders CFR Cluj defeated Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes, 3-nil. Scoring for CFR was the Spaniard Jefte Betancor, who on 5 minutes turned a penalty kick into a goal. Then CFR's Croatian footballer scored again, in minute 38, while Inter Club d'Escaldes's only Romanian footballer, Raul Feher, scored an own goal in minute 84. If they advance to the competition's further stage, CFR Cluj play Shakhtar Soligorsk of Belarus. 

Romanian Cup winners, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, succeeded a 3-1 home win against Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia, coming from behind when the guests already had a 1-nil lead on the pitch. Late into the first half Marius Stefanescu scored Sepsi's first goal, then Nicolae Paun scored the second goal in minute 84, while Olimpija's Austrian player Mateo Haramatic scored an own goal in added time. However, the qualification will be decided in Slovenia this coming Thursday. If they make headway into the competition, Sepsi will next play Rijeka of Croatia or Djurgaardens of Sweden. In the first leg, the Swedish team grabbed a 2-1 away win. In Shkodër, Universitatea Craiova drew against Albanian team Vllaznia, 1-all. Late into the first half Universitatea's Andrei Ivan scored the opener. The guest team wasted a lot of other opportunities to score while Vllaznia's Ardit Hohxaj took advantage of his team's only scoring opportunity and provided the equalizer on 51 minutes. If they advance to the competition's further stage, Universitatea Craiova face Ukrainian team Zarya Lugansk. Utterly disappointing was FCSB's nil-1 defeat by Georgian opponents Saburtalo, away from home. The game's only goal was scored by Levan Nonikashvili in minute 40. If they succeed a comfortable win in the return leg, FCSB will next take on Faeroe team Vikingur or Slovakia's Dunajska Streda, in the Conference League's third preliminary round. In the first leg, Dunajska won 2-nil, away from home. 

Matches counting towards the Romanian football Superleague's second round are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, CS Mioveni play Farul Constanța. On Saturday, FC Voluntari are pitted against FC Botoșani in Mioveni. On Sunday, at noon, Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe play a home fixture against F C Arges. Also on home turf, FC U Craiova takes on CFR Cluj. Then in Cluj, Universitatea Cluj face Universitatea Craiova. On Sunday night, in Romanian football's all-time derby, Rapid București play FCSB, The second round's last two fixtures are scheduled on Monday, when Chindia Târgoviște face FC Hermannstadt and UTA  Arad play Petrolul Ploiești. (EN)