Sports Weekend

Romania's women's handball team failed to qualify in the quarter-finals of the World Championships hosted by Spain. On Thursday, Romania lost 31-30 to the Netherlands, the defending world champions. The Romanians, coached by Adrian Vasile, put on their best performance in this final tournament, but the Dutch players' experience made the difference at the end of the match.

Crina Pintea, who scored 6 goals, was nominated the best player of the match. Cristina Laslo also scored 6 times for Romania. The national team lost all chances to finish on one of the 2 top places in Main Group 2 and to move up into the quarter-finals. Their next match, against Puerto Rico, is scheduled for Saturday.

In men's handball, Dinamo Bucharest Thursday defeated the Ukrainian side Motor Zaporoje, 33-29, in the Champions' League Group B. This was the 3rd win for the Romanian club this season, but the team is still ranking last in its group with only 6 points. The competition will be resumed next year, with the Romanian champions due to take on Barça in Bucharest on February 17.

Romanian football champions CFR Cluj saw their presence in this year's Europe Conference League season ending with a victory. Coach Dan Petrescu's team won 1-0, on home turf, against the Czech side Jablonec. In the Group D ranking, Cluj comes 4th, with one win, one draw and 4 defeats.

This weekend also sees matches counting towards the 19th leg of the top Romanian football league. The 2 matches on Friday, FC U Craiova vs. Academica Clinceni and Rapid Bucharest vs. FC Argeş, will be followed on Saturday by games pitting UTA Arad against FC Botoşani, FC Voluntari against Universitatea Craiova, and FCSB against Gaz Metan Mediaş. On Sunday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe take on Farul Constanţa, and CFR Cluj on CS Mioveni. The last match in the leg, Dinamo Bucharest vs. Chindia Târgovişte, is scheduled for Monday. 

In the current standings, Cluj are on top with 48 points, followed by FCSB with 40. (tr. A.M. Popescu)