European Football Championship - Netherlands celebrate 3:0 - First quarter-final since 2008
Cody Gakpo and substitute Donyell Malen led the Netherlands to their first EURO quarter-final in 16 years, scoring the goals that secured a 3:0 (1:0) victory over passionate underdogs Romania in Munich.
Gakpo, the outstanding striker from Liverpool (20th minute), and Malen (83rd and 90+3 minutes), who came on as a substitute for Dortmund, thrilled the Dutch team with their goals, leaving the crowd jubilant.
Ronald Koeman, the Dutch coach, was pleased with his team's dominant performance and their safe passage despite an initial threat from Romania. In their quest for the dreamed-of second European Championship title, Koeman's team will face Austria or Turkey in the quarter-final on Saturday in Berlin.
A solo effort for 1:0
Gakpo described the start of the knockout round as a new beginning, a week after the disappointing 2:3 loss to Austria. The 25-year-old took the lead with a fine solo effort from about twelve meters. The ball hit Florin Nita's goalkeeper's net at 121 km/h after a short corner.
The referee in Berlin, Felix Zwayer, did not award a second goal to Gakpo after a video assistant check (63rd minute). Gakpo now has three tournament goals. He provided the assist for the decisive 2:0.
No new coach fairy tale
The Romanian team, driven by their entire nation with much passion and frequent cheers, posed a challenge to the Dutch in the early stages with their energetic pressing. But after Gakpo's goal-scoring performance, there was little danger for the Dutch team. Thirty years after Romania's great success with Anghel Iordanescu as coach in the WM quarter-final against Argentina, his son Edward Iordanescu missed a similar tournament coup as a coach.
Despite the determination of their "nationally driven" players, the Romanians were unable to score before half-time, with only a warning shot from Dennis Man (14th minute). The fans, who cheered their team louder than the Dutch supporters, still celebrated Man's effort.
A shot from Xavi Simons
The Dutch team had numerous opportunities to score before half-time, but the ten corners they earned in the first half did not result in the goal Koeman desired. Klaughably, Xavi Simons, who is rumored to be a candidate for Bayern Munich, missed his shot in what could potentially be his future home stadium. The 21-year-old hesitated too long, and the ball went wide of the goal (44th minute).
The Dutch team missed their chance to score the 2:0 before half-time, and the second half was tense. The underdogs fought to avoid elimination from the EURO. The Dutch team missed their precision in the final moments, just as they had in the first half. Or, Nita saved, as he did with Gakpo's long-range shot (62nd minute).
In the closing stages with several opportunities for the Dutch team, Malen scored twice for the Netherlands, and thousands of Dutch fans cheered their team's entry into the quarter-finals.
- The Netherlands, with a strong performance from Romanians like Gakpo and Malen, advanced to the EM Round of sixteen against Austria or Turkey in Berlin.
- In the Netherlands' 3:0 victory over Romania, Malen, a substitute from Dortmund, scored two crucial goals in the 83rd and 90+3 minutes.
- Koeman's team, with Liverpool FC's Gakpo as the standout striker, recorded their first EURO quarter-final since 2004 in Munich, Germany.
- Malen's second goal sealed the victory for the Netherlands, earning them a spot in the European Football Championship's quarter-finals.
- Despite a strong initial threat from Romania, led by their passionate underdogs, Ronald Koeman's Elftal ultimately dominated the match.
- In the first half, Gakpo secured a 1:0 lead for the Netherlands with a powerful solo effort from about twelve meters, hitting Nita's goalkeeper's net at 121 km/h.
- The goal came after a short corner, but Gakpo's second goal was not awarded, even after a video assistant check, leaving him with three tournament goals.
- Romania, driven by their passion and supported by fans like Edward Iordanescu, wanted to replicate their father's World Cup success in '86, but fell short in the EURO.
- Malen capped off an impressive Dutch performance with two more goals in the closing stages, painting a beautiful picture of their advancement to the quarter-finals in Berlin's Olympiastadion.
