The Netherlands advanced to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after eliminating Romania 3-0 in the round of 16. Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen were the stars of Oranje's victory in this match.
Playing in Munich, Tuesday (2/7), Gakpo opened the scoring in the first half with a goal in the 20th minute. The Liverpool striker then designed the second goal which was scored by Donyell Malen in the 83rd minute.
At the end of the match, Malen added his goal through a counter-attack, ensuring a three-goal lead. Ronald Koeman's team is just waiting for the winner of Austria vs Türkiye to find out who their opponents will be in the last eight.
The Netherlands got the first chance through Xavi Simons' long-range shot in the 6th minute, but his shot was saved by Romanian goalkeeper Florin Nita.
Romania threatened again in the 14th minute, but Dennis Man's long-range shot was not on target. The Netherlands had a chance four minutes later through a corner kick, but Nathan Ake's header went wide to the right side of the goal.
The Netherlands opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Cody Gakpo cut-inside from the left after receiving Simons' pass, then fired a shot which went into the left corner of the Romanian goal even though it hit Nita's hand.
Gakpo found the Romanian goal again in the 63rd minute, but the Video Assistant Referee disallowed it for offside. Joey Veerman got a good chance who was just facing Nita in the 73rd minute, but his shot went narrowly wide on the right side.
The Netherlands finally got the second goal in the 83rd minute. Gakpo stabbed from the left side then sent a pass to Donyell Malen to finish it off as a goal with a low shot. The 2-0 score lasted until the end.
Malen scored his second goal in injury time through a counter-attack built by Simons to increase the lead to 3-0 for the Netherlands, who held on until the end.
