Sports weekend

All Romanian teams that have been playing in the Conference League qualifiers have advanced to the European competition's third preliminary round. In Andorra on Wednesday, CFR Cluj drew against Inter Club d'Escaldes, 1-all, having grabbed a 3-nil win in the first leg of the tie. In the third preliminary round, Craiova are pitted against Ukrainian opponents Zaria Lugansk. On the National Arena in Bucharest, FCSB defeated Georgian team Saburtalo, 4-2, after a nil-1 defeat away from home. Throughout the game, Romanian vice-champions first had a 2-nil advantage, then Saburtalo came from behind and levelled the score, while in the final part of the match FCSB braced up and secured their win. FCSB will next play Slovakian opponents Dunajská Streda. Romanian Cup winners, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, had a most difficult job in the tie against Slovenian challengers Olimpija Ljubljana. Sepsi sustained a first-leg nil-2 defeat away from home, having grabbed a 3-1 win on home turf. In the penalty shootout, Olympia twice wasted their opportunity to score; eventually, Sepsi secured a 4-2 win on aggregate. The Romanian team are next pitted against Djugaarden of Sweden.

Matches counting towards the third round of Romanian Superleague football championship are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, Vineri, FC Argeş takes on cu Universitatea Cluj, while Farul Constanţa faces Chindia Târgovişte. On Saturday, in Mioveni, FC Voluntari is pitted against UTA Arad, while in Cluj, CFR receives the visit of CS Mioveni. In Ploiesti on Sunday, Petrolul plays Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. In Craiova, Universitatea takes on Rapid Bucharest. The third round's last two fixtures are scheduled on Monday, when FC Hermannstadt is pitted against FC Botoşani and FCSB faces FC U Craiova. After two rounds, Farul and FC Botoşani are the only teams with six out of six possible points on their record sheet. (EN)