Netherlands exploded in form, crushing Romania 3-0 with goals from Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, advancing to the last 8 of football Euro 2024.
In the first 15 minutes, Romania played without any fear of the Netherlands. And had many chances to get the ball in the Dutch penalty area UFABET
However, in the 20th minute, it was the Netherlands who took the lead 1-0. When Cody Gakpo dragged the ball down the left wing and dribbled into the penalty area. Before firing a right-footed shot that sent the ball into the near post and into the goal.
Then the Netherlands had a chance to pull ahead, most notably in the 44th minute. When Denzel Dumfries snatched the ball at the right end line and crossed it to Safi Simons, who took a moment to get it. But his shot deflected off a Romanian defender and just wide of the post.
The first half ended with the Netherlands leading Romania 1-0.
In the second half, in the 54th minute, the Netherlands almost extended their lead. Dumfries crossed from the right wing into the middle. Donyell Malen, who came on in the second half, shot deflected into the path of Memphis Depay, who rested his legs and flicked a powerful shot from 6 yards out, but the ball was blocked by the Romanian defenders and bounced back into the hands of Florin Nita, who incredibly missed the chance to score.
The Netherlands almost got another in the 58th minute when Van Dijk dived to head the ball off the post.
In the 62nd minute, the Dutch army made a terrifying counterattack. Cody Gakpo dragged the ball from his own half and decided not to pass it to anyone, choosing to shoot from outside the penalty area. The ball went straight to the goal, but Nita made a superb save to push it behind.
From a corner kick, the ball was cleared and Gakpo finally scored, but VAR checked that it was offside and disallowed the goal.
In the 73rd minute.
The Netherlands had another golden opportunity. Gakpo passed the ball to Joey Fierman, who broke away and turned to shoot with his right foot from a tight angle, but the ball went wide of the far post.
After a long push, the Netherlands finally pulled ahead 2-0 when Dragusin failed to clear the ball, allowing Gakpo to charge down the left side of the penalty area and flick it to Donyell Malen, who fired a close-range shot into the net.
Not only that, in the 90+3 minute of injury time, the Netherlands sealed the 3-0 lead with a counterattack. Malen dribbled from the middle of the field and passed the Romanian defender into the net.
Full-time: Netherlands crush Romania 3-0, advance to the quarter-finals to meet the winner between Austria and Türkiye.