The 2017–18 Moldovan Cup () was the 27th season of the annual Moldovan football cup competition. Sheriff Tiraspol entered as the defending champions after winning the 2016–17 edition. It began with the first preliminary round on 22 July 2017, and concluded with the final on 23 May 2018. The winner qualifies for the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.

Format and schedule 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 22 July 2017 14 50 → 36 Second Preliminary Round 25 July 2017 4 36 → 32 First Round 12–13 August 2017 11 32 → 21 Second Round 19 September 2017, 3 October 2017 5 21 → 16 Round of 16 24–25 October 2017 8 16 → 8 Quarter-Finals 18 April 2018 4 8 → 4 Semi-Finals 9 May 2018 2 4 → 2 Final 23 May 2018 1 2 → 1

Participating teams The following teams entered the competition: Divizia Naționalăthe 10 teams of the 2017 season Divizia Athe 11 non-reserve teams of the 2017 season Divizia Bthe 29 non-reserve teams of the 2017 season Sheriff Tiraspol title holder Zaria Bălți runner-up Dacia Chișinău Milsami Orhei Zimbru Chișinău Petrocub-Hîncești Speranța Nisporeni Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol Sfîntul Gheorghe Spicul Chișcăreni Saxan Ceadîr-Lunga Ungheni Victoria Chișinău Sparta Selemet Sîngerei Edineț Iskra Rîbnița Real Succes Chișinău Codru Lozova Grănicerul Glodeni Cahul-2005 Prut Leova Sparta Chișinău Intersport Sănătăuca Speranța Drochia Maiak Chirsova Florești Sinteza Căușeni Bogzești Ceadîr-Lunga Congaz Maiac Cioropcani Sireți Anina Anenii Noi Cruiz Camenca Slobozia Mare Fălești Rîșcani Codru-Juniori Cricova Boldurești Nistru Otaci Fîrlădeni Fortuna Pleșeni Fulger Ialoveni Olimp Comrat Socol Copceac Steaua-57 Chișinău Tighina FCM Ungheni

Number in brackets denote the level of respective league in Football in Moldova. Teams in bold continue to the next round of the competition.

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. Cricova received a bye for the first preliminary round. All matches were played on 22 July 2017.

Second preliminary round 8 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 25 July 2017.Speranța Drochia, Rîșcani, Intersport Sănătăuca, FCM Ungheni, Socol Copceac, Fortuna Pleșeni and Olimp Comrat received a bye for the second preliminary round.

First round The 11 winners from the preliminary rounds joined the 11 Divizia A teams. In a match, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league. Matches were played on 12 and 13 August 2017.

Second round The 8 winners from the previous round joined the 2 Divizia Națională sides seeded 9-10, Sfîntul Gheorghe and Spicul Chișcăreni. Steaua-57 Chișinău, Victoria Chișinău and Socol Copceac received a bye for the second round. The home teams and the pairs for 2 Divizia Națională sides were determined in a draw held on 16 August 2017. Matches were played on 19 September 2017 and 3 October 2017.

Final stage

Bracket

Round of 16 The 5 winners from the previous round and Steaua-57 Chișinău, Victoria Bardar, Sokol Copceac joined the remaining 8 Divizia Națională sides seeded 1-8. The home teams and the pairs were determined in a draw held on 6 October 2017. Matches were played on 24 and 25 October 2017.

Quarter-finals The 8 winners from the previous round entered the quarter-finals. The home teams were determined in a draw held on 27 October 2017. Matches were played on 18 April 2018.

Semi-finals The 4 winners from the previous round entered the semi-finals. The home teams were determined in a draw held on 20 April 2018. Matches were played on 9 May 2018.

Final

The final was played on Wednesday 23 May 2018 at the Zimbru Stadium in Chișinău. The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held on 10 May 2018.

GK 1 Radu MîțuDF 2 Artur CrăciunDF 6 Constantin Bogdan DF 22 Dinu GraurDF 23 Vadim Bolohan MF 5 Mihai PlăticăMF 7 Vadim Rață MF 17 Andrei Cojocari (c)FW 13 Sergiu Plătică FW 16 Alexandru AntoniucFW 19 Romeo Surdu Substitutes:GK 50 Anatol ChirinciucDF 3 Andrei NovicovDF 4 Vasile JardanMF 10 Gheorghe Andronic MF 14 Andrei RusnacFW 9 Maxim Antoniuc FW 18 Igor Bugaiov Head Coach: Veaceslav Rusnac GK 1 Emil TîmburDF 2 Victor Golovatenco DF 22 Igor ȚîgîrlașDF 23 Dmitri TeleginDF 90 Ion Jardan (c)MF 7 Ilie DamașcanMF 20 Cristian Nagornîi MF 21 Willian Pozo-VentaMF 84 Alexandru OnicaMF 89 Eugen Sidorenco FW 9 Ion Nicolaescu Substitutes:GK 12 Victor BugaDF 27 Alexei CiopaMF 6 Victor BogaciucMF 10 Victor Stînă MF 77 Nichita Iurașco MF 99 Radu ScoarțăFW 19 Blaise Yaméogo Head Coach: Vladimir Aga

Assistant referees: Marcin Boniek (Poland) Dawid Golis (Poland) Fourth official: Alexandru Tean (Moldova)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if score is still level. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.

References

External links Cupa Moldovei on soccerway