Sports weekend

The latest action in Romanian football.

Florin Orban, 11.10.2019, 13:45

Romania’s Under-21 national side
defeated Ukraine 3-nil on Thursday. The match was played in Ploiesti and was
part of Group 8 of the qualification campaign for the Under-21 European
Football Championship in 2021. Romania thus pulled off their first win in this
campaign after losing their first match to Denmark 1-2 on the 10th
of September. In Ploiesti, Romania scored all their goals towards the end of
the match. Olimpiu Morutan scored first, 75 minutes into the match, followed by
Adrian Petre five minutes later and
again in the fourth minute of extra time to take the score to 3-nil. Romania
finished however in ten players after Marius Marin, who was playing his first
match for the national side, got a red card after being on the pitch for only
one minute.

In other Group 8 fixtures, Denmark
defeated Northern Ireland 2-1, while Finland defeated Malta 4-nil. Finland now
top the group with 7 points in three matches. They are followed by Denmark in
second place with 6 points in two matches. Romania are third with 3 points in
two matches. Ukraine are fourth with 3 points, Northern Ireland are fifth with
2 points and Malta are bottom of the group with 1 point. These last three sides
have each played three matches. The next fixtures will take place on Monday, on
the 14th of October, when Finland take on Denmark and Romania face
Northern Ireland. The winners of each of the nine qualifying groups make it
straight to the final tournament, which is hosted by Hungary and Slovenia in
2021, as well as four of the second-placed teams following play-offs.

Meanwhile, Romania’s senior side will
be facing the Faroe Islands away on Saturday, in Group F in the 7th
leg of their qualifying run for the 2020 European Championships. Romania have
to win this match to have any chances left, and then again their following
match, next Tuesday, against Norway, which they will be playing in Bucharest.