2018 Moldovan National Division

The 2018 Moldovan National Division (Romanian: Divizia Națională) was the 28th season of top-tier football in Moldova. The season started on 1 April 2018 and ended on 24 November 2018. Fixtures were announced on 19 March 2018. Sheriff Tiraspol were the defending champions. The winners of the league this season earned a spot in the first qualifying round of the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, and the second, third and fourth placed clubs earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League.[1]

Divizia Națională
Season2018
Dates1 April 2018 – 24 November 2018
ChampionsSheriff
17th title
RelegatedZaria
Champions LeagueSheriff
Europa LeagueMilsami
Petrocub
Speranța
Matches played112
Goals scored269 (2.4 per match)
Top goalscorerVladimir Ambros
(12 goals)
Best goalkeeperSerghei Pașcenco (11 clean sheets)
Biggest home winSheriff 4–0 Sf. Gheorghe
(16 June 2018)
Sheriff 5–1 Zaria
(1 July 2018)
Milsami 4–0 Dinamo-Auto
(1 July 2018)
Biggest away winDinamo-Auto 0–5 Sheriff
(10 June 2018)
Highest scoringSf. Gheorghe 3–6 Petrocub
(14 April 2018)
Longest winning run6 matches
Sheriff
Longest unbeaten run11 matches
Sheriff
Longest winless run12 matches
Dinamo-Auto
Longest losing run6 matches
Dinamo-Auto
Highest attendance5,500
Zimbru 0–0 Petrocub
(22 September 2018)
Lowest attendance50
Dinamo-Auto 0–0 Sf. Gheorghe
(20 May 2018)
Dinamo-Auto 1–2 Speranța
(27 June 2018)
Dinamo-Auto 3–0 Zimbru
(1 September 2018)
Dinamo-Auto 1–0 Milsami
(22 September 2018)
Zaria 1–1 Sf. Gheorghe
(10 November 2018)
Total attendance91,220
Average attendance814
← 2017
2019 →

Teams
Location of teams in 2018 Divizia Națională

Number of teams by region
Region Number of teams Club(s)
Transnistria 2 Dinamo-Auto and Sheriff
Bălți 1 Zaria
Chișinău Zimbru
Hîncești Petrocub-Hîncești
Ialoveni Sfîntul Gheorghe
Nisporeni Speranța
Orhei Milsami

Stadia and locations
Club Location Stadium Capacity
Dinamo-AutoTiraspol Dinamo-Auto Stadium, Tîrnauca 1,300
MilsamiOrhei Complexul Sportiv Raional 3,000
Petrocub-HînceștiSărata-Galbenă Stadionul Municipal, Hîncești 1,000
Sfîntul GheorgheSuruceni Suruceni Stadium 1,500
SheriffTiraspol Sheriff Stadium 12,726
SperanțaNisporeni Complexul Sportiv Raional, Orhei 3,000
ZariaBălți Stadionul Orășenesc 7,000
ZimbruChișinău Zimbru Stadium 10,400

Personnel and kits
Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Dinamo-Auto Igor Dobrovolski Vitalie Bordian Joma OM
Milsami Veaceslav Rusnac Andrei Cojocari Kelme Dufremol, Avia Invest, Moldclassica
Petrocub-Hîncești Lilian Popescu Vladimir Ambros Joma CUN Auto Rentals, MAIB
Sfîntul Gheorghe Serghei Cebotari Vitalie Plămădeală Macron Niagara fitness club, Craft Meat
Sheriff Goran Sablić Mateo Sušić Adidas IDC
Speranța Cristian Efros Ștefan Efros Nike Orom Imexpo, Mticket.md
Zaria Alexandru Patraman Vladimir Livșiț Joma Fundația Renato Usatîi, Bălți, OM
Zimbru Sorin Colceag Ion Jardan Joma Chateau Vartely, amg-holding.md

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position
in table		 Replaced by Date of appointment
Dinamo-Auto Veaceslav Semionov End of caretaker spell End of 2017 season[2] Pre-season Viorel Frunză 20 January 2018[3]
Zimbru Iurie Osipenco Sacked End of 2017 season[4] Vladimir Aga 23 February 2018[5]
Zaria Ștefan Stoica Sacked 13 December 2017[6] Vlad Goian 5 February 2018[7]
Dinamo-Auto Viorel Frunză Demoted to assistant coach 19 March 2018[8] Igor Dobrovolski 19 March 2018[9]
Sfîntul Gheorghe Serghei Secu Resigned 15 April 2018 8th Serghei Cebotari 15 April 2018[10]
Sheriff Roberto Bordin Resigned 24 April 2018[11] 1st Victor Mihailov (interim) 24 April 2018[12]
Victor Mihailov End of caretaker spell 7 June 2018 1st Goran Sablić 7 June 2018[13]
Zimbru Vladimir Aga Removed from position 12 June 2018 7th Serghei Secu 12 June 2018[14]
Serghei Secu Sacked 1 August 2018 5th Sorin Colceag 1 August 2018[15]
Zaria Vlad Goian Sacked 25 October 2018 8th Alexandru Patraman (interim) 25 October 2018[16]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sheriff Tiraspol (C) 28 19 6 3 58 14 +44 63 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Milsami Orhei 28 13 6 9 36 24 +12 45[lower-alpha 1] Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 2]
3 Petrocub-Hîncești 28 12 9 7 38 28 +10 45[lower-alpha 1]
4 Speranța Nisporeni 28 9 11 8 27 26 +1 38
5 Zimbru Chișinău 28 9 9 10 28 37 −9 36
6 Dinamo-Auto 28 7 7 14 25 43 −18 28
7 Sfîntul Gheorghe 28 6 8 14 30 50 −20 26
8 Zaria Bălți (R) 28 4 10 14 26 46 −20 22 Relegation to Division "A"
Source: FMF, UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (only if deciding champion when two teams tied); 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Head-to-head goals scored; 7) Matches won; 8) Goal difference; 9) Goals scored; 10) Less red cards; 11) Less yellow cards.[17]
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Milsami ahead of Petrocub on head-to-head points: Milsami : 7p, Petrocub : 4p.
  2. Since the winners of 2018–19 Moldovan Cup, Sheriff Tiraspol, qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the Cup winner (Europa League first qualifying round) was passed to the next best-placed team (the fourth-placed team).

Results
Matches 1−14

Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).

Home \ Away DIN MIL PET SFÎ SHE SPE ZAR ZIM
Dinamo-Auto — 0–2 2–2 0–0 0–5 1–2 0–0 1–3
Milsami Orhei 4–0 — 2–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–1 1–0
Petrocub-Hîncești 0–3 1–2 — 3–1 1–0 1–1 3–0 3–0[lower-alpha 1]
Sfîntul Gheorghe 0–1 0–1 3–6 — 2–2 2–2 1–0 1–0
Sheriff Tiraspol 5–2 0–0 3–0 4–0 — 3–0 5–1 3–1
Speranța Nisporeni 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–0 — 0–0 1–1
Zaria Bălți 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–1 — 1–1
Zimbru Chișinău 2–2 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–3[lower-alpha 2] —
Source: FMF, Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Zimbru received a 0–3 technical loss in a away game against Petrocub due to violation of regulations. The original match ended in a 2–1 victory for Petrocub [18]
  2. Zimbru received a 0–3 technical loss in a home game against Zaria due to violation of regulations. The original match ended in a 4–3 victory for Zimbru.[18]
Matches 15−28

Teams will play each other twice (once home, once away).

Home \ Away DIN MIL PET SFÎ SHE SPE ZAR ZIM
Dinamo-Auto — 1–0 1–0 3–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 3–0[lower-alpha 1]
Milsami Orhei 0–1 — 1–2 3–0 0–2 0–1 3–0 1–1
Petrocub-Hîncești 3–0 1–1 — 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–1
Sfîntul Gheorghe 5–2 0–2 1–0 — 1–3 1–2 1–0 3–1
Sheriff Tiraspol 2–0 1–1 0–0 4–1 — 2–0 5–2 3–0[lower-alpha 2]
Speranța Nisporeni 1–0 1–0 1–2 4–1 0–0 — 1–2 1–3
Zaria Bălți 1–1 3–4 1–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 — 0–1
Zimbru Chișinău 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–3[lower-alpha 3] 3–1 —
Source: FMF, Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. Zimbru received a 0–3 technical loss in a away game against Dinamo-Auto due to violation of regulations. The original match ended in a 1–1 draw.[18]
  2. Zimbru received a 0–3 technical loss in a away game against Sheriff due to violation of regulations. The original match ended in a 3–0 victory for Sheriff.[18]
  3. Zimbru received a 0–3 technical loss in a home game against Speranța due to violation of regulations. The original match ended in a 1–0 victory for Zimbru.[18]

Results by round

The following table represents the teams game results in each round.

Team12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Dinamo-Auto WD DL LW LD DL DD LL LL LL W[lower-alpha 1]L WW DL LL WW
Milsami Orhei WW LW DL WD WW WW DW DD LW WL LL LD WW LL
Petrocub-Hîncești LL WW DL DW LW DD WW[lower-alpha 1] WD LD WW DD WD WW LL
Sfîntul Gheorghe LD LL DW DD WL LD LD WL WL LW LL WD LL DL
Sheriff Tiraspol WW WW DW WL DW WW DW LW WW WW[lower-alpha 1] WD DD WW LW
Speranța Nisporeni DL DD DW DL DD DL WD DL WW[lower-alpha 1] LW WL DW LL WW
Zaria Bălți DD DL DL LW DL LD W[lower-alpha 1]L DW LD LL LW DL LL DL
Zimbru Chișinău LD DD WL DD LD DL L[lower-alpha 2]L[lower-alpha 2] DW WL[lower-alpha 2] L[lower-alpha 2]L[lower-alpha 2] DW LW WW WW

Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals[19]
1 Vladimir Ambros Petrocub 12
2 Alhaji Kamara Sheriff 9
3 Ziguy Badibanga Sheriff 8
Gerson Rodrigues Sheriff
5 Eugeniu Rebenja Dinamo-Auto 7
Mihai Plătică Milsami
Alexandru Antoniuc Milsami
8 Sergiu Istrati Sf. Gheorghe 6
9 Ion Nicolaescu Zimbru 5
Aleksandr Butenko Milsami
Artiom Puntus Sf. Gheorghe (3) & Petrocub (2)
Denis Janu Dinamo-Auto
Evgheni Oancea Sheriff
Alexandru Bejan Petrocub (3) & Dinamo-Auto (2)
Vadim Gulceac Zaria
Alexandru Suvorov Sf. Gheorghe
Ilie Damașcan Zimbru

Hat-tricks


PlayerHomeAwayResultDate
Alhaji KamaraSheriffSfîntul Gheorghe4–016 June 2018
ConradoZariaMilsami3–41 September 2018

Top assists
Rank Player Club Assists[20]
1 Ziguy Badibanga Sheriff 8
2 Artur Pătraș Petrocub 7
Vadim Gulceac Zaria
4 Antun Palić Sheriff 6
Vadim Paireli Sf. Gheorghe (3) & Petrocub (3)
Vadim Rață Milsami
7 Alexandru Onica Zimbru 5
Mihai Plătică Milsami
9 Vladislav Ivanov Petrocub 4
Yury Kendysh Sheriff
Anatol Cheptine Dinamo-Auto
Cristiano da Silva Sheriff
Ilie Damașcan Zimbru
Dinu Graur Milsami

Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Clean sheets[21]
1 Serghei Pașcenco Sheriff 11
2 Daniil Avdyushkin Speranța 9
Radu Mîțu Milsami
Dumitru Celeadnic Petrocub
5 Cristian Avram Dinamo-Auto 8
6 Dorian Railean Sf. Gheorghe 6
7 Mickaël Meira Zimbru 5
Zvonimir Mikulić Sheriff
9 Vladimir Livșiț Zaria 4
10 Victor Buga Zimbru 3

Attendances
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Sheriff Tiraspol 19,420 3,500 600 1,387 +3.2%†
2 Zimbru Chișinău 18,010 5,500 350 1,286 +42.9%†
3 Zaria Bălți 16,550 2,500 50 1,182 −23.4%†
4 Milsami Orhei 14,920 2,000 120 1,065 +5.3%†
5 Petrocub-Hîncești 12,950 1,500 300 925 +30.1%†
6 Speranța Nisporeni 4,550 1,000 100 325 −26.8%†
7 Sfîntul Gheorghe 3,420 400 100 244 −24.2%†
8 Dinamo-Auto 1,400 200 50 100 −28.1%†
League total 91,220 5,500 50 814 +17.0%†

Source: fmf (in Romanian)

Notes
  1. Technical win
  2. Technical loss

References
  1. "Country ranking". Bert Kassies.
  2. У Динамо-Авто будет новый главный тренер (in Russian).sports.md
  3. "Viorel Frunze a părăsit Dacia și a preluat clubul Dinamo-Auto" (in Romanian).moldfootball.com
  4. "Iurie Osipenco a fost demis de la Zimbru" (in Romanian).moldfootball.com
  5. "Vladimir Aga noul antrenor principal" (in Romanian).zimbru.md
  6. Заря расторгла контракт со Штефаном Стойкой (in Russian).fczaria.md
  7. Влад Гоян готовит Зарю к новому сезону (in Russian).sports.md
  8. Добровольский сменил Виорела Фрунзе (in Russian).sports.md
  9. "Igor Dobrovolski a devenit antrenorul clubului Dinamo-Auto" (in Romanian).moldfootball.com
  10. "Noul antrenor este Cebotari" (in Romanian).publika.md
  11. "Roberto Bordin said goodbye to the team".fc-sheriff.com
  12. "Victor Mihailov is appointed temporarily as a head coach".fc-sheriff.com
  13. "Goran Sablić new head coach".fc-sheriff.com
  14. "Serghei Secu - noul antrenor principal" (in Romanian).zimbru.md
  15. "Colceag este noul antrenor al clubului Zimbru".publika.md
  16. Влад Гоян отстранен от должности главного тренера (in Russian).fczaria.md
  17. "Regulamentul campionatului R. Moldova la fotbal ediția 2018" [Rules Football Championship Edition 2018 Moldova] (PDF). fmf.md (in Romanian). Moldovan Football Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-22.
  18. Discipline Commission Decision. Moldovan Football Federation. 28 September 2018
  19. "Players - Divizia Națională - Moldova". Soccerway.
  20. "TOP Assist". moldfootball.com.
  21. "Clean sheets". fmf.md.
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