The 2016–17 Moldovan Cup () 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.

RoundMatch datesFixturesClubs 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 entered the competition: Divizia Naționalăthe 11 teams of the 2016–17 season Divizia Athe 12 non-reserve teams of the 2016–17 season Divizia Bthe 28 non-reserve teams of the 2016–17 season Zaria Bălți title holder Milsami Orhei runner-up Sheriff Tiraspol Dacia Chișinău Zimbru Chișinău Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol Speranța Nisporeni Petrocub-Hîncești Academia Chișinău Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga Ungheni Spicul Chișcăreni Gagauziya-Oguzsport Victoria Chișinău 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

GK 25 Sergiu Juric DF 14 Benjamin Balima DF 21 Maxim Potîrniche DF 55 Mateo Sušić (c)DF 90 Vujadin SavićMF 8 Radu GînsariMF 20 Cyrille Bayala MF 24 Seidu YahayaFW 11 RicardinhoFW 39 Ziguy Badibanga FW 99 Vitalie Damașcan Substitutes:GK 28 Alexei KoșelevDF 3 Ion Jardan DF 6 Victor OliveiraDF 17 Artiom Rozgoniuc DF 23 Dionatan Teixeira DF 37 Vitalie BordianMF 4 Khalifa Jabbie MF 7 Jô Santos MF 30 Josip BrezovecMF 32 Evgheni OanceaMF 88 Zoran KvržićHead Coach: Roberto Bordin GK 33 Serghei PașcencoDF 2 Victor Golovatenco DF 5 Andrei NovicovDF 14 Andriy SlinkinDF 20 Oleh Yermak MF 4 Alexandru Onica (c)MF 8 Vadim Rață MF 10 Igor ȚîgîrlașMF 16 Alexandru Suvorov MF 19 Maxim Mihaliov FW 9 Gheorghe OvseanicovSubstitutes:GK 1 Vladimir LivșițDF 6 Iulian Erhan DF 26 Tihomir TrifonovDF 27 Denis RassulovMF 3 Ion CărărușMF 22 Rubén Gómez FW 7 Alberto Alvarado MorínFW 11 Gheorghe Boghiu FW 18 Vadim Gulceac FW 21 Igor BugaiovHead 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.

References

External links Cupa Moldovei on soccerway