Netherlands advance to the quarter-finals, while Romania go home. It was an emphatic win for the Dutch in the end but they were still sweating as the game entered its final seven minutes, just before they scored their second goal.Netherlands break upfield with Malen on the ball. He chops inside two chasing defenders on the edge of the Romania penalty area and pulls a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner. It’s full time in Munich.Romania are going to go out of this tournament but can do so with the collective head held high. They’ve really given it a right good go in this tournament and were just one kick of a ball away from equalising in this match until six minutes ago.Netherlands. Gakpo makes way after another good performance. He’s joint top of the official Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings with three but will have to go some to catch up with Own Goals, who are disappearing over the horizon with nine.Netherlands doubnle their lead. Gakpo ferrets his way along the byline, with Dragusin on his case. The defender thinks the ball’s gone out of play and relaxes slightly, but it hasn’t. Gakpo pulls it back to Malen, who prods home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Netherlands get their second goal …Netherlands break upfield with Malen on the ball. He plays a rubbish pass out to Gakpo, who has to pause his run to control the ball. He eventually sorts his feet out and unleashes a shot that is heroically blocked.Romania, leaping to deny Depay a good chance in the air. The lesser-spotted Tottenham January signing has been outstanding today.Netherlands, with Schouten and Ake making way. Alexandru Cicaldau, Denis Alibec and Valentin Mihaila are on for Romania. Hagi, Dragus and Marin head for the bench.Romania can somehow win this game.Romania draught excluder in place at a free-kick, Memphis Depay sends a free-kick under thge leaping defensive wall. Nice try but not today. Wide.Romania win a corner and the ball is played short(ish) to Haji. His whipped cross is put out for another corner by Dumfries and Virgil clears the next inswinger.Netherlands were peppering the Romania goal and I’m not quite sure how they didn’t score.Netherlands could pay dearly for this profligacy of theirs in front of goal.Romania, wide on the left. Stanciu whips the ball into the mixer but Burca can’t quite get his head to it.Romania kicking off.Romania since scoring their goal and Edward Iordanescu has a big job to do in the next 15 minutes if his side are to turn this game around.Romania penalty area. There’s a bit too much zip on the pass and by the time Simons has the ball fully under control, he’s swarmed by defenders and can only send a feeble shot wide of the far upright. Romania dodge another bullet.Romania goal. He’d spotted Nita off his line and tried to catch out the Romania goalkeeper.Netherlands continue to send cross after cross after cross into the Romania penalty area, which the men in yellow are defendingh fairly desperately. They deserve immense credit for digging in but another goal could really knock the stuffing out of them and lead to a rout.Romania clear again.
Romania lose his replacement. Bogdan Racovitzan comes on and slots in at centre-back, with Andrei Burca moving to left-back.
Source: theguardian.com
