Romania round-up: Rapid back on track

FC Rapid Bucuresti recovered from last week's 2-1 defeat by FC Steaua Bucuresti to gain a 2-0 win at lowly FC Arges Pitesti.

Rapid dominate
In a game dominated by Rapid, Emmanuel Godfroid put the leaders ahead on 57 minutes, converting a Valentin Badoi cross. Substitute Florin Soava had only been on the pitch three minutes when he secured the victory with a 16-metre shot on 81 minutes.

Victory for Steaua
Steaua remain within five points of the leaders with five games left after beating CF Gloria Bistrita 1922 3-0. Florentin Dumitru scored on eight minutes and Steaua held that lead until ten minutes from the end when Claudiu Raducanu claimed his 15th goal of the season, and he made it 16 - and 3-0 - in added time.

National held
FC National Bucuresti lost ground on Steaua in the race for second place and a UEFA Cup berth as they were held 2-2 at FCM Bacau. Radu Ciobanu's third-minute penalty put the home side ahead, but National led on the half-hour thanks to goals from Gigel Coman and Sergiu Radu. National continued to dominate, but could not score as Bacau goalkeeper Florin Prunea had a fine game, and his side were rewarded with an added-time Marius Croitoru equaliser.

Brasov run ended
However, National are up to third, four points behind Steaua, as FC Brasov's run of five victories ended with a 2-1 defeat at FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. Meanwhile, champions FC Dinamo Bucuresti secured their first win of 2003 with a 2-0 victory against ten-man FC Farul Constanta.

Arad hope
Lower down, bottom side FC UTA Arad still have hope of avoiding relegation after a 1-1 draw at Astra Ploiesti, but remain six points adrift of avoiding the bottom two. FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara and CS Otelul Galati drew 0-0 to end the weekend in the two play-off places above the drop zone, in which CF Sportul Studentesc are a point behind after losing 2-0 to FC Universitatea Craiova, who rose to seventh.