# 2016–17 Moldovan Cup

The 2016–17 Moldovan Cup (Romanian: Cupa Moldovei) was the 26th season of the Moldovan annual football tournament. Zaria Bălți entered as the defending champions after winning the 2015–16 edition. The competition started on 20 August 2016 with the first preliminary round and concluded with the final at the Zimbru Stadium on 25 May 2017. Sheriff won a record 9th title following a 5–0 win over Zaria in the final. As winners, Sheriff would have been assured a place for the 2017–2018 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round; however, since they already qualified for the 2017–2018 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round by winning the title in the Divizia Națională, the Europa League entry went to Zaria Bălți, the highest team in the Divizia Națională table which had not already qualified for European competitions.

## Format and Schedule

51 clubs entered this season's competition, an increase of four clubs compared with the 2015–16 total of 47 clubs. Both preliminary rounds and the first two rounds proper were regionalised to reduce teams travel costs. All ties level after 90 minutes used extra time to determine the winner, with a penalty shoot-out to follow if necessary.
| Round | Match dates | Fixtures | Clubs |
| First Preliminary Round | 20 August 2016 | 14 | 51 → 37 |
| Second Preliminary Round | 23 August 2016 | 2 | 37 → 35 |
| First Round | 3 September 2016 | 12 | 35 → 23 |
| Second Round | 20–21 September 2016 | 7 | 23 → 16 |
| Round of 16 | 25–26 October 2016 | 8 | 16 → 8 |
| Quarter-Finals | 26 April 2017 | 4 | 8 → 4 |
| Semi-Finals | 16 May 2017 | 2 | 4 → 2 |
| Final | 25 May 2017 | 1 | 2 → 1 |

## Participating teams

The following teams are qualified for the competition. Reserve teams are excluded.
| Divizia Națională the 11 teams of the 2016–17 season | Divizia A the 12 non-reserve teams of the 2016–17 season | Divizia B the 28 non-reserve teams of the 2016–17 season |
| Zaria Bălți $^{titleholder}$ Sheriff Tiraspol Dacia Chișinău Zimbru Chișinău Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol Milsami Orhei Speranța Nisporeni Petrocub-Hîncești Academia Chișinău Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga Ungheni | Spicul Chișcăreni Gagauziya-Oguzsport Victoria Bardar Codru Lozova Iskra Rîbnița Edineț Intersport-Aroma Sfîntul Gheorghe Real Succes Chișinău Prut Leova Sîngerei Sparta Selemet | Bogzești Florești Cahul-2005 Anina Anenii Noi Intersport Sănătăuca CFR Ialoveni Sireți Grănicerul Glodeni Sinteza Căușeni Congaz Slobozia Mare Cruiz Camenca Fălești Boldurești Codru-Juniori Dava Soroca Trachia Taraclia Politeh Chișinău Cotiujenii Mari Maiak Chirsova Cricova Rîșcani Nistru Otaci Orhei Star Maiac Cioropcani Ceadîr-Lunga Speranța Drochia Sparta Chișinău |
Number in brackets denote the level of respective league in Football in Moldova

## First preliminary round

28 clubs from the Divizia B entered this round. Teams that finished higher on the league in the previous season played their ties away. All matches were played on 20 August 2016. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Rîșcani (3) | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Speranța Drochia (3) |
| Intersport Sănătăuca (3) | 1–0 | Florești (3) |
| Maiac Cioropcani (3) | 2–0 | Codru-Juniori (3) |
| Fălești (3) | 0–5 | Grănicerul Glodeni (3) |
| Nistru Otaci (3) | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Dava Soroca (3) |
| Orhei Star (3) | 1–0 | Bogzești (3) |
| Cotiujenii Mari (3) | 1–2 | Cruiz Camenca (3) |
| Politeh Chișinău (3) | 1–8 | Sinteza Căușeni (3) |
| Cricova (3) | 1–2 | Anina Anenii Noi (3) |
| Sparta Chișinău (3) | 1–0 | Boldurești (3) |
| Slobozia Mare (3) | 2–1 | Cahul-2005 (3) |
| Ceadîr-Lunga (3) | 4–0 | Trachia Taraclia (3) |
| Sireți (3) | 3–0 | CFR Ialoveni (3) |
| Maiak Chirsova (3) | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | Congaz (3) |

## Second preliminary round

4 clubs from the Divizia B entered this round. Teams that finished higher on the league in the previous season played their ties away. Matches were played on 23 August 2016. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition. Rîșcani, Intersport Sănătăuca, Maiac Cioropcani, Grănicerul Glodeni, Cruiz Camenca, Sinteza Căușeni, Anina Anenii Noi, Sparta Chișinău, Sireți and Congaz received a bye for the second preliminary round.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Nistru Otaci (3) | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Orhei Star (3) |
| Ceadîr-Lunga (3) | 7–2 | Slobozia Mare (3) |

## First round

The 12 winners from the preliminary rounds joined the 12 Divizia A teams. In a match, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league. All matches were played on 3 September 2016. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Rîșcani (3) | 1–4 | Edineț (2) |
| Intersport Sănătăuca (3) | 1–0 | Sîngerei (2) |
| Maiac Cioropcani (3) | 3–5 | Codru Lozova (2) |
| Grănicerul Glodeni (3) | 0–2 | Spicul Chișcăreni (2) |
| Orhei Star (3) | 1–2 | Victoria Bardar (2) |
| Cruiz Camenca (3) | 1–1 (1–3 p) | Iskra Rîbnița (2) |
| Sinteza Căușeni (3) | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Intersport-Aroma (2) |
| Anina Anenii Noi (3) | 3–0 | Real Succes Chișinău (2) |
| Sparta Chișinău (3) | 2–4 | Sfîntul Gheorghe (2) |
| Ceadîr-Lunga (3) | 2–2 (2–4 p) | Prut Leova (2) |
| Sireți (3) | 2–10 | Sparta Selemet (2) |
| Congaz (3) | 2–4 | Gagauziya-Oguzsport (2) |

## Second round

The 11 winners from the previous round joined the 3 Divizia Națională sides seeded 9-11, Academia, Saxan and Ungheni. Gagauziya-Oguzsport received a bye for the second round. The home teams and the pairs for 3 Divizia Națională sides were determined in a draw held on 7 September 2016. Matches were played on 20 and 21 September 2016. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.

## Final stage
### Bracket

| Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final | Final |
| Milsami Orhei | Milsami Orhei | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Academia Chișinău | Academia Chișinău | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Academia Chișinău | Academia Chișinău | 0 | Milsami Orhei | Milsami Orhei | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Sheriff Tiraspol | Sheriff Tiraspol | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | Sheriff Tiraspol | 13 | Sheriff Tiraspol | Sheriff Tiraspol | 1 | | | | | | | |
| Codru Lozova | Codru Lozova | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Codru Lozova | Codru Lozova | 0 | | | | Petrocub-Hîncești | Petrocub-Hîncești | 1 (4) | | | | |
| | | | | | | Sheriff Tiraspol (p) | Sheriff Tiraspol (p) | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Spicul Chișcăreni | Spicul Chișcăreni | 0 | | | | | | | Sheriff Tiraspol (p) | Sheriff Tiraspol (p) | 1 (5) | | | | |
| Petrocub-Hîncești | Petrocub-Hîncești | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Petrocub-Hîncești | Petrocub-Hîncești | 3 | Petrocub-Hîncești | Petrocub-Hîncești | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Speranța Nisporeni | Speranța Nisporeni | 0 | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | 0 | | | | | | | |
| Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga | 1 | | | | | | | | Sheriff Tiraspol | Sheriff Tiraspol | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Zaria Bălți | Zaria Bălți | 0 |
| Zimbru Chișinău | Zimbru Chișinău | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | Zaria Bălți | Zaria Bălți | 0 |
| Anina Anenii Noi | Anina Anenii Noi | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Anina Anenii Noi | Anina Anenii Noi | 0 | Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol | Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Zimbru Chișinău | Zimbru Chișinău | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol | Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol | 3 | Zimbru Chișinău | Zimbru Chișinău | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Sfîntul Gheorghe | Sfîntul Gheorghe | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sfîntul Gheorghe | Sfîntul Gheorghe | 2 | | | | Zaria Bălți | Zaria Bălți | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Zimbru Chișinău | Zimbru Chișinău | 0 | | | | |
| Sparta Selemet | Sparta Selemet | 1 | | | | | | | Zimbru Chișinău | Zimbru Chișinău | 0 | | | | |
| Dacia Chișinău | Dacia Chișinău | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Dacia Chișinău | Dacia Chișinău | 4 | Dacia Chișinău | Dacia Chișinău | 1 (2) | | | | | | | |
| | | | Zaria Bălți (p) | Zaria Bălți (p) | 1 (4) | | | | | | | |
| Gagauziya-Oguzsport | Gagauziya-Oguzsport | 1 | Zaria Bălți (p) | Zaria Bălți (p) | 1 (4) | | | | | | | |
| Zaria Bălți | Zaria Bălți | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Round of 16

The 7 winners from the previous round and Gagauziya-Oguzsport joined the remaining 8 Divizia Națională sides seeded 1-8. The home teams and the pairs were determined in a draw held on 23 September 2016. Matches were played on 25 and 26 October 2016. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.

## Quarter-finals

The 8 winners from the previous round entered the quarter-finals. The home teams were determined in a draw held on 28 October 2016. Matches were played on 26 April 2017. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.

## Semi-finals

The 4 winners from the previous round entered the semi-finals. The home teams were determined in a draw held on 28 April 2017. Matches were played on 16 May 2017. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.

## Final

The final was played on Thursday 25 May 2017 at the Zimbru Stadium in Chișinău. The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held on 17 May 2017.
| Sheriff | Zaria |
| GK | 25 | Sergiu Juric |
| DF | 14 | Benjamin Balima | 52' |
| DF | 21 | Maxim Potîrniche |
| DF | 55 | Mateo Sušić (c) |
| DF | 90 | Vujadin Savić |
| MF | 8 | Radu Gînsari |
| MF | 20 | Cyrille Bayala | 55' | 78' |
| MF | 24 | Seidu Yahaya |
| FW | 11 | Ricardinho |
| FW | 39 | Ziguy Badibanga | 69' |
| FW | 99 | Vitalie Damașcan | 60' |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 28 | Alexei Koșelev |
| DF | 3 | Ion Jardan | 52' |
| DF | 6 | Victor Oliveira | | |
| DF | 17 | Artiom Rozgoniuc |
| DF | 23 | Dionatan Teixeira | 69' |
| DF | 37 | Vitalie Bordian |
| MF | 4 | Khalifa Jabbie | 60' |
| MF | 7 | Jô Santos | 78' |
| MF | 30 | Josip Brezovec |
| MF | 32 | Evgheni Oancea |
| MF | 88 | Zoran Kvržić |
| Head Coach: ||
| Roberto Bordin ||
| GK | 33 | Serghei Pașcenco |
| DF | 2 | Victor Golovatenco | 77' |
| DF | 5 | Andrei Novicov |
| DF | 14 | Andriy Slinkin |
| DF | 20 | Oleh Yermak | 51' |
| MF | 4 | Alexandru Onica (c) |
| MF | 8 | Vadim Rață | 64' |
| MF | 10 | Igor Țîgîrlaș |
| MF | 16 | Alexandru Suvorov | 65' |
| MF | 19 | Maxim Mihaliov | 12' | 79' |
| FW | 9 | Gheorghe Ovseanicov |
| Substitutes: ||
| GK | 1 | Vladimir Livșiț |
| DF | 6 | Iulian Erhan |
| DF | 26 | Tihomir Trifonov |
| DF | 27 | Denis Rassulov |
| MF | 3 | Ion Cărăruș |
| MF | 22 | Rubén Gómez | 65' | 68' |
| FW | 7 | Alberto Alvarado Morín |
| FW | 11 | Gheorghe Boghiu | 51' |
| FW | 18 | Vadim Gulceac | 79' |
| FW | 21 | Igor Bugaiov |
| Head Coach: ||
| Vlad Goian ||
| Assistant referees: Serkan Olguncan (Turkey) Ceyhun Sesigüzel (Turkey) Fourth official: Alexandru Tean (Moldova) | Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if score is still level. Eleven named substitutes, of which up to four may be used. |