Moldova doubled their points tally to two, after seven World Cup qualifying matches, thanks to a goalless draw against Luxembourg.

Neither team could break the deadlock throughout a rainy night in Chisinau.

Luxembourg's Gilles Bettmer had the first significant chance - his long-range free-kick parried by goalkeeper Stanislav Namasco but out of the reach of any attackers in the penalty area on the quarter-hour.

Six minutes later, Moldova might have opened the scoring when a corner from Igor Bugaiov was headed just wide by Alexandr Gatcan.

The remainder of the first half was uneventful - but after 10 minutes of the second, Moldova again went close when Denis Calincov's 30-yard shot just cleared the top corner; then on the hour, Gatcan hit the bar with another long-range effort.

Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert was required to keep out a Calincov shot.

But with 17 minutes to go, it was Bettmer again who was just wide with another speculative attempt.

Moldova had one final chance to snatch an elusive victory three minutes from time, but substitute Valeriu Andronic headed over from eight yards.

Luxembourg held on grimly to stay above their hosts at the bottom of the table, despite having their coach Guy Hellers dismissed from the dug-out in the 82nd minute after continued disagreement with referee Gediminas Mazeika.