Netherlands beat Romania 3-0 thanks to three great goals, with Gapko in the 20th and Malen’s brace in the 83rd and 93rd. The Romanians start with great determination, but the technical superiority of the Oranje is clear.
Coach Koeman’s team were in the lead he came close to doubling the score many times, even hitting the post with van Dijk and Gapko’s goal cancelled. In the final, Malen’s two goals sealed the game, the first coming off an assist from Gapko.
The first half
In the fifth minute Xavi goes straight to the shot from distance, Nita saves it to the ground. On the tenth Simons three balls to Depay, Nita comes out, clears, then collides with Depay and Burca, but it was upside down. Shortly after it’s Romania and Man tries a shot from the edge of the area, the ball goes out.
In the 20th minute Gapko receives the ball on the right, Ratiu tackles him but number 11 has a sudden jump and from a tight angle he takes center stage, hits his right foot from inside the area and hits Nita at the near post: Holland ahead.
Romania-Netherlands: round of 16 – UEFA EURO 2024 – Goal by Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Shortly after, a nice start from Romania with Hagi serving Stanciu in the area, the ball in the middle, Man marked narrowly and he fails to frame the goal. At the 25th corner for the Netherlands from the left, Depay hits it, de Vrij hits the header at the far post, the ball hits the outside of the net.
On the half hour mark, a deep ball for Dumfries that goes from the back line to Depay, Dragusin slides and saves in the corner with the inside of his leg. In the 38th minute Morgos leaves injured, Racovitan replaces him.
Five minutes later Depay’s deep pass for Dumfries, Racovitan takes possession of the ball but the Nerazzurri steals it with force and crosses it to Simons, the Dutchman is surrounded by Romanian defenders and misses his aim.
After the first 45 minutes, the Netherlands-Romania 1-0.
GettyRomania-Netherlands: round of 16 – UEFA EURO 2024
At the start of the second half the substitution of the Netherlands: Malen comes on in place of Bergwijn. In the 47th free kick for Romania from the right taken by Stanciu, Burca jumps but does not reach it, Verbruggen refuses with his fist.
At the 53rd Dutch cross from the right side, a deflection by Malen, a shot by Depay, then the ball bounced off the bodies of three Romanian players in danger of entering the goal, finally Nita blocks it to the ground. Four minutes after a corner for the Netherlands, van Dijk’s header, the ball hits the outside post.
In the 60th minute Gapko starts from his own defense and runs a ball and chain to the edge of the area. On the developments of the corner Gapko pounces on a ball in front of the Romanian goalkeeper and scores, the referee disallows ita for offside after VAR report.
In the 79th minute, a great action by Malen who goes on a solo escape, coming to the area by surprise he serves Gapko, his shot is deflected. In the 83rd play Depay left, pass to Gapko who manages to work the ball on the baseline to prevent it from going out, Malen is needed and all he has to do is put it in the net: it is the double of the Orange.
Al 93 game Malen starts the ball from the middle of the field, coming close to the area he sends a shot of the right foot which goes into the corner at the near post: it is the goal that makes it 3-0.
ANSARomania-Netherlands: round of 16 – UEFA EURO 2024 – Goal by Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
GettyRomania-Netherlands: round of 16 – UEFA EURO 2024