July 1 & 2, 2021
Thursday July 1, 2021
FC Floresti 0-1 CS Petrocub Hincesti
Sheriff Tiraspol 0-1 FC Balti ( att : 1,000 )
Friday July 2, 2021
FC Zimbru Chisinau 3-0 Dinamo Auto ( att : 300 )
FC Milsami-Orhei 1-1 Sfintul Gheorghe ( att : 500 )
Petrocub started the season with an encouraging away win at Floresti. All of the their starting XI from their match at Sheriff reviewed by these diaries in March were part of their match day squad for this game, and they were strengthened by three additions from Dacia Buiucani. the side who had voluntarily requested relegation for financial reasons after finishing 5th in the 2020/21 league table.
Darius Iosipo, who has 2 caps and was at loan at second level Russian side Veles Moscow, as well as Under 21internationals Ioan Revenco and Cornelieu Cotogoi all started, and added to the emphasis on Moldovan internationals in their squad.
Despite their 6 point deduction, the Floresti line-up looked pretty similar to the end of the previous season. There was actually very little to distinguish between the two sides and only Platica’s glanced header early in the second half from a cross from Potirniche separated the two sides/ Although Petrocub dominated the last 30 minutes they were unable to extend their lead.
Newly promoted FC Balti caused a huge upset in their debut match in the Divizia Nationala with a totally unexpected victory at Champions Sheriff, whose last home league defeat was in April 2019. Before the game Sheriff announced the signed of Guinean striker Momo Yansane, an ex-Isloch Minsk favourite in Belarus. He did not figure in this match, but will no doubt be expecting to contribute towards a championship medal.
Nigerian youngster Emmanuel Araribe gave Balti the lead in the 18th minute with a stunning strike from just outside the penalty area. Sheriff totally dominated the rest of the match bur found Balti keeper Nazarciuc in inspired form, and he made one outstanding save from Sheriff’ top scorer from last season, Casteneda, who surprisingly started on the bench. Balti rattled up 6 yellow cards, three of which came in the last 10 minutes as they battled to keep Sheriff at bay.
The Balti line-up included two Argentinians ( 37 year old journeyman Ruben Gomes and Alvaro Bely ), a Brazilian ( Wellington Tiara ) and a Ukrainian ( Segey Molochko ). Sheriff started with 10 different nationalities.
In 2000 I saw Zimbru, former giants of Moldovan football, play Sparta Prague in a Champions League Qualifier and lose 0-1 against a side including Tomas Rosicky, in front of a crowd of 8,588. They look to be in for a much better season than last season where they struggled against relegation. Based on the evidence of their first match of the season, where they easily beat Dinamo-Auto 3-0, they should not be one of the divisions strugglers.
After Neagu headed against the bar early on, veteran striker Eugen Siderenco thought he has marked his return from Albanian side Vllazina with two goals on his debut, but his first effort was subsequently recorded as an own goal. A goal from defender Alexei Ciopra sealed the victory, much to the delight of Zimbru’s hard core fans.
As expected the match between Milsami-Orhei and Sfintul Gheorghe, last season’s third and fourth place teams, was a close affair. Milsami took the lead in the 18th minute through international midfielder Radu Ginsari’s fine left-footed side-footed effort from just inside the penalty area. The visitors responded strongly and created a number of chances, the most notable in the 37th minute being a miss from close range by Petru Ojog, whose downward header somehow bounced over the bar. The equaliser eventually came from the penalty spot, awarded in the 62nd minute for a handball, Victor Stina sent the keeper the wrong way.
Milsami almost gifted a winner to Sfintul Gheorghe when keeper Timbur cleared a back-pass straight to Solodovnicov but the forward was so surprised he failed to control it. Litviakov and Solodovnicov both missed great chances to win the game as the visitors dominated the closing stages, and they may feel this was 2 points dropped.
The next round of games are scheduled for the weekend of July 17th , with the pick of the matches being Petrocub hosting Sheriff.
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