In what was a one sided contest, Netherlands eased their way past Romania in Munich as Cody Gakpo and a Donyell Malen brace provided the finishing touches to send the Dutch through to the one-eight stage of the European Championships (Euros).
The battle of armies, it proved to be. Netherlands stacked up the back of the Romanian goal with the orange wall, while Romania filled the other half of the stadium with the yellow wall (colours of their respective first kits).
Deafening noise was produced in the stadium as the supporters intensified the decibel levels and matched each other stride for stride in that regard.
But on the pitch, where the game was taking place, there was a different narrative, as Romania failed to compete against the Dutch.
Although showing courage and bravery with their aggressive press, the Dutch managed to stretch the Romanian backline and get in behind their defence time without number.
Cody Gakpo, scorer of three goals at the tournament already, was rewarded with a fourth after 20 minutes, as he chopped inside and fizzed a low drive near post, giving the Dutch the lead and extending his goal tally to 4.
Romania struggled to lay a glove on the Netherlands, but found themselves in the game heading into the break, despite Xavi Simon inches away from doubling the Dutch’s lead two minutes from the break.
A change in personnel for Netherlands saw Donyell Malen, scorer of an own goal against Austria, take the place of Steven Bergwijin up front, while Romania’s coach Lordanescu stuck to his guns.
The Tricolorii’s were fortunate not to have been two down just before the hour mark, as Cody Gakpo’s goal was ruled out for offside.
Romania were unable to contain the relentless Dutch pressure as the Netherlands swamped forward with intent; Memphis Depay put a free-kick from the edge of the box marginally wide, before substitute Joey Veerman came close from point blank range.
However, the Dutch were not to be denied seven minutes from time as Malen was right on cue to tuck in a Gakpo’s cut back to extend his side’s advantage to two.
The Borussia Dortmund man was soon in the act, again, to put the game beyond Romania as he went on a solo run after receiving the ball from Xavi Simons a little after the halfway line and thumping home for the Dutch’s third.
His final cushion meant the Dutch stared at a quarter-final date with either Turkey or Austria, who have the Netherland’s number already —in the tournament— in Berlin on Saturday.
Malen rises to the occassion
It was a matter of when rather than if, with reference to Netherlands finding their next goal. The relentless pressure was evident the Dutch were soon going to find the back of the net, but as to who would have found it was the million dollar question.
Cody Gakpo, who is now two goals shy from Marco Van Basten’s record for the most goals scored by a Dutch player at a single edition of the Euros, would have been the easier bet.
However, an unlikely hero in Donyell Malen rose to the occasion to give Netherlands a much needed advantage and secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Euros.
The Dortmund wide man repaid his managers faith this time with a brace, after putting through his own net in calamitous fashion to open the scoring for Austria in the last game.
If Ronald Koeman and the Dutch have any aspirations of winning an elusive Euro crown -their first since 1988- the former Barcelona head coach would need players (other than Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo) to rise to the occasion.
Hats off, Romania
When it mattered most, Romania seemed to run out of steam and never got going against the Netherlands in Munich, subjecting themselves to a ‘never existing’ defensive display.
Lordanescu’s side came out of the traps in the opening 15 minutes, reminiscent of the determination showcased on opening day when they took down Ukraine 3-0 to record their first Euros win in 24 years.
But, it was not meant to be, with the Dutch outmuscling them to win every duel and proving the gulf in qualify between the sides at full-time.
Romania, who topped their qualifying group with 22 points, gave a good account of themselves, and would bow out of the tournament with their heads held up high.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers.ug.edu.gh
