July 02, (THEWILL) – The Netherlands booked their place in the UEFA European Championship quarter-finals for the first time since 2008 with a convincing 3-0 victory over Romania. The match saw the Dutch side overcome early pressure to dominate the game.
Romania started strong, with Dennis Man narrowly missing the target early on. However, Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock for the Netherlands after 20 minutes, cutting inside Andrei Rațiu and firing past Romanian goalkeeper Florin Niță. The goal energised the Dutch team, leading to increased pressure on Romania’s defence.
Despite valiant efforts from Romanian defenders, particularly Radu Drăgușin, the Netherlands continued to press for a second goal. The breakthrough came in the second half when Gakpo set up Donyell Malen for the team’s second goal. Malen later added a third with a solo effort, cementing the Dutch victory.
The win marks the Netherlands’ first knockout stage success in the Euros since 2004. For Romania, the tournament ends on a bittersweet note. Although they progressed past the group stage for the first time since 2000, their campaign concluded with two losses in their final three matches.
Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side now looks ahead to the quarter-finals, while Romania can reflect on a tournament that, despite the final result, demonstrated significant progress for their national team.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
