Evening Standard
·2 July 2024
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·2 July 2024
The penultimate last-16 tie sees a surprise package take on a former champion
Donyell Malen struck twice late on as the Netherlands reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Romania in Munich. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the dominant Dutch after 20 minutes but Ronald Koeman's side spurned a host of chances before finally making victory certain. Malen eased nerves with a close-range finish seven minutes from time and wrapped up a deserved success after a fine run in stoppage time.
Romania made the brighter start with Dennis Man going close but Gakpo changed the game with his third goal of the tournament. The Liverpool forward finished well as he cut inside from the left and lashed a low right-foot shot inside Florin Nita's near post.bMemphis Depay and Malen both failed to make clean contact in a goalmouth scramble and Virgil Van Dijk headed against the post.
Gakpo forced a good save from Nita and then had a close-range effort ruled out for offside before Depay went close from a free-kick and Joey Veerman missed by inches. Romania felt hard done to when play was pulled back for a foul by Denis Alibec as Nicolae Stanciu broke away but Malen finished the game with his late double. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog.