15 September 2006, by Tom Kundert

Moldovan strike edges out Nacional

Rapid Bucharest 1-0 Nacional

A goal shortly before half time from veteran Romanian international striker Moldovan, dictated a narrow defeat for Nacional da Madeira yesterday. The result means Nacional failed to break their unwanted record of only recording defeats in Europe – three matches, three losses.

However, the fact that the Madeira team competed well with their hosts keeps their hopes alive of turning around the tie in a fortnight’s time.

Rapid started strongly trying to impose their game on Nacional. Lazar had an early shooting chance but Benaglio saved comfortably.

Against the run of play Nacional almost took the lead when a header from central defender Ricardo Fernandes just failed to find the net, with Nacional’s players claiming the ball had crossed the goal-line.

Carlos Brito’s team were coming more and more into an entertaining contest, with Bruno Amaro firing two shots at goal from outside the area, the second of which forced Coman into conceding a corner.

But two minutes from the break Moldovan got hold of the ball on the edge of the box and clinically shot past Benaglio to give the home team the lead.

The second half was a different story with Rapid attacking incessantly and Nacional producing a fine backs-to-the-wall display to keep out the Romanians.

Ironically, the best chance of the second half fell to Nacional, when goalkeeper Coman made a hash of a clearance but Serginho Baiano incredibly shot wide of an open goal. It could prove to be a costly miss.

Nacional will have to make history to progress and win their first European match in the second-leg, but are still very much in the tie.

Rapid Bucharest:
Coman, Marius Constantin (Nicolae Constantin, 46), Maftei, Rada, Grigori (Maldarasanu, 80), Buga, Badoi, Lazar, Zicu (Gifitths, 63), Karamyan, Moldovan
Yellow Cards: Maftei (21)

Nacional:
Diego, Emerson, Fernando Cardozo, Ricardo Fernandes, Alonso, Cleber, Chainho, Bruno Amaro, Juliano (Vinicius, 69), Rodrigo Silva (Chilikov, 72), Serginho Baiano (Luciano, 90)
Yellow Cards: Vincius (78)

Goals:
[1-0] Moldovan, 43