Sports Weekend

Last week saw the matches of the Romanian Football Cup's round of 16. On Tuesday, second leaguer Petrolul Ploiești clinched a 3-0 home win against Poli Iași. On Wednesday, Chindia Târgoviște defeated Farul Constanta 3-0 on the latter's home turf. Another second leaguer, Universitatea Cluj secured a 2-1 win against UTA Arad, while Dinamo Bucharest obtained a 1-0 victory against archrivals FCSB. On Thursday, Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu, also from Romania's second football league, defeated at home Gaz Metan Mediaș 1-0 while Astra Giurgiu obtained a 2-1 away victory against Politehnica Timișoara. Universitatea Craiova outperformed FC Botoșani 1-0 in an away game. Second leaguer Dunarea Calarasi has qualified for the quarters after the withdrawal of Turris - Oltul Turnu Magurele.

This weekend will see a series of football games counting towards the 23rd leg of Romania's first football league. Only one game on Friday when FC Arges is pitted against Viitorul Constanta. On Saturday, Chindia is up against UTA in Buftea, southern Romania, while Dinamo Bucharest, at home, will be playing Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe. On Sunday, Astra Giurgiu will be playing in Iasi, northern Romania, local side Poli. Universitatea Craiova will be up against Academica Clinceni while the city of Medias will be hosting the game opposing Hermannstadt and FCSB.

Monday will see the leg's last two games: FC Botosani versus Gaz Metan and CFR Cluj against FC Voluntari. FCSB ranks first in the standings with 48 points followed by CFR with 47.

   Romania's water polo side is in the Netherlands attending a qualifying tournament for Tokyo Olympics. Our team is part of the C group together with Croatia, Olympic champions in 2012 and vice-champions in 2016, Germany, Russia the Netherlands and France. Romania will take on Croatia on Sunday in their first game. The quarterfinals have been scheduled for February 19th the semis a day later and the finals on 21st February. The first three sides are qualified for the Olympic Games.

The Romanian women's handball side CSM Bucharest will be playing French side Metz in the Champions League' group A on Saturday. A day later in group B, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea plays on their own ground another French side Brest Bretagne. These are the last games the Romanian sides will be playing in the group stage. Last week, the European Handball Federation amended the regulations allowing all the sides in the groups to qualify for the round of 16. In the European League Dunărea Brăila will be up against Fleury Loiret of France. After four games Dunarea is ranking 3rd in their group.

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