Moldova national football team draws with Faroe Islands in Nations League

The national football team of Moldova has drawn 1-1 with the Faroe Islands in their second match in Group C3 of the 2026/27 Nations League. The match was played at Zimbru Stadium from Chisinau in front of 4,542 spectators.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Viljormur Davidsen, who converted a penalty. The Moldovan footballers equalized in the second half, in the 66th minute, through Sergiu Perciun. The midfielder from Italian club Ascoli scored his first goal for the national team in his 12th appearance, producing a spectacular direct free-kick finish. Moldova came close to securing victory late in the match: Perciun hit the post in the 69th minute, while Nichita Moțpan struck the crossbar in the 88th minute.

The match marked important milestones for more members of the national team: it was Lilian Popescu’s 10th game as head coach, captain Vladislav Baboglo made his 30th appearance, and Nicky Clescenco earned his 10th cap.

At the post-match press conference, head coach Lilian Popescu analyzed the team’s performance and the psychological context the players are going through.

“This pressure from the run of matches without a win continues to affect the team. The opponent practically had no chances until that penalty. We are somewhat low on morale, considering that we have not recorded a victory for a long time. But at halftime, we talked and I told the boys not to give up. Obviously, the result matters most in football, but I was pleased with their commitment and performance. We gained a little courage and confidence, and we want to continue in the same way,” Popescu said.

The coach also highlighted the challenges posed by the busy schedule and the need to rotate the squad.

“Now, we face a very difficult away trip to Kazakhstan. This is the first time in our season that we have played four matches in ten days. We are trying to cope, help the players recover, and have fresh players for every match. Everyone has understood that there is no longer a fixed starting eleven, but rather a team, a family of 25 players. Sooner or later, everyone will have a chance to play,” the coach added.

Lilian Popescu also emphasized the contribution of the younger players and offered a long-term perspective on the rebuilding process.

“I am pleased that younger players came onto the pitch with confidence. The future belongs to them, and my first goal when I took over the national team was to build a team that would achieve results in the future and delight the supporters with major victories. We still do not have the results or the style of play I want, but I am convinced that we are on the right track. It is like an orchard, where the harvest cannot be obtained just one year after planting. It takes time and support. What I saw in the second half moved me deeply—the supporters’ backing was felt by the players as well,” Popescu concluded.

In the other Group C3 match, Slovakia defeated Kazakhstan 2-1. After the first two rounds, Moldova’s national team occupies last place in the group standings.

The Moldovan national football team will next face Kazakhstan away from home on October 2, at Astana Arena, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00.





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