Review of Matla vs. Romania
Romania put on a good display of football in the match against Malta
Ștefan Baciu, 11.06.2019, 13:45
Romania’s national football team
defeated Malta 4-nil away from home on Monday in a match counting towards the
2020 European Championship preliminaries. Coach Cosmin Contra changed several
players in the first-team lineup as compared to the previous match in Oslo,
where Romania drew 2-all against Norway. In the match against Malta Romania
held possession ever since minute 1, also due to the young midfielders Ianis
Hagi, Razvan Marin and Tudor Baluta who won numerous balls. Romania opened the
score on minute 7, when George Puscas sent Nicusor Bancu’s left cross into the
back on the net. Puscas made it 2-nil on minute 39 after an individual move.
Alexandru Chipciu scored the third goal on minute 34 with a superb shot from
outside the penalty box. Coach Cosmin Contra was forced to replace defender
Ionut Nedelcearu, who sustained a nasal fracture and was transported to the
hospital. In the second half the pace slowed down, and Romania had to end the
game in ten players, after Alexandru Chipciu was shown a second yellow booking
and was sent off. In stoppage time, Dennis Man scored the final goal on the
counter-attack, and thus Romania defeated Malta 4-nil.
Also in Group F Spain defeated
Sweden 3-nil and Norway grabbed a 2-nil away win over the Faeroe Islands. Spain
tops the group tables with 12 points, followed by Romania and Sweden, each with
7 points, Norway with 5 points, Malta with 3 points and the Faeroe Islands with
0 points. Romania holds good chances of securing one of the two top spots in
the group standings, which secures qualification to the 2020 European
Championship. Romania’s next fixture will be on September 5 in Bucharest
against Spain.
(Translated by V. Palcu)
