A brace from substitute Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo’s third goal of the tournament secured the Netherlands a spot in the EURO2024 quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years. They will take on the winner of Austria v Türkiye this evening.
Ronald Koeman made three changes from the side that started against Austria: Xavi Simons, Denzel Dumfries and Steven Bergwijn came into the starting XI whilst Joey Veerman, Donyell Malen and Lutsharel Geertruida dropped to the bench. Romania made two changes as Vasile Mogos replaced the suspended Nicușor Bancu and and Dennis Man received the start over Florinel Coman.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the first half before two goals in the final ten minutes from Malen avoided any late drama, knocking Romania out of the tournament after a valiant effort.
As it happened
Romania came into the game having finished top of Group E, and demonstrated their strength in the opening minutes as they battled to win the ball from the Dutch, not allowing them much time to settle into a spell of possession.
Embed from Getty ImagesFlorin Niță first claimed the ball at the six-minute mark when Xavi Simons cut inside after a ball down the left from Van Dijk, but the winger’s shot took a deflection and allowed the keeper to make a comfortable save.
Desperate not to just sit back and defend, Romania applied pressure high up the pitch and caged the Netherlands into their own half with limited chances created by Koeman’s side despite the attacking threats on his roster.
At 12 minutes, Xavi Simons played a pass in behind from the edge of the Romanian penalty area with Depay quickly approaching to try and lift the ball over the keeper, but Nita was quick to deny him with the flag then raised for offside.
The ball was instantly up the other end of the pitch as Dennis Man beat Bart Verbruggen and sent a shot just skimming the face of the goal. It was a close chance that showed their opposition they were enthusiastic and would put them under pressure – and that they did.
It wasn’t until midway inside the first half that the scoring was opened through Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. Despite a strong opening 20 minutes from Romania, Nita was beaten at his near post as Gakpo cut inside before unleashing his shot into the bottom corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt would be the only goal of the first half though – the Netherlands had a plethora of chances to double their advantage with corners to be converted and pristine crosses to be headed home, but they couldn’t make their control of the game count until Dortmund’s Donyell Malen was introduced after half-time.
Romania again came out fighting in the second half, but the Dutch continued to put the ball into dangerous areas without any result. Memphis Depay failed to score from close range whilst Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header. Gakpo put the ball in the net for a second time at 63 minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
In the 76th minute, Joey Veerman missed a chance with his shot just wide of the far post before Malen tried to set up Gakpo at 81-minutes, but the 25-year-old’s shot was blocked again and pushed behind.
He was back in on the action just a moment later though, setting up Malen who doubled the Dutch’s advantage in Munich. The Liverpool man beat Drăgușin in a physical battle and managed to keep the ball in, controlling it before pulling it back for Malen to tap home from the edge of the six-yard box at 83-minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesFour minutes of added time was enough for Malen to rub a little further salt in the wound, wrapping up an impressive win for the Netherlands with his second goal of the night.With nothing to lose, Romania committed bodies forward and were then caught as Xavi Simons sent Malen on his way to catch the opposition on the break. The winger cut back and struck the ball into the bottom corner, becoming only the fourth player ever to score twice from the bench in a European Championship game.
The Netherlands will face the winner of Türkiye v Austria in the quarterfinals; follow all the action here on FromTheSpot.
The lineups
ROU: Niță; Rațiu, Drăgușin, Burcă, Mogoș; M. Marin; Man, R. Marin, Stanciu, Hagi; Drăguș
NED: Verbruggen; Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Aké; Schouten, Reijnders; Bergwijn, Simons, Gakpo; Depay
