Netherlands produced a commanding display to seal their spot in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Romania in Munich.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo got his country up and running, before Ronald Koeman's side spurned a number of chances to add a second.
However, Netherlands' relentless pressure finally paid dividends as Donyell Malen scored two late goals to wrap up a comfortable victory.
Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth analysis of the contest, including highlights, man of the match and the best statistics from the one-sided affair.
HIGHLIGHTS
6th min: Xavi Simons registers the first shot on target. The 21-year-old tries his luck from distance, but his effort is comfortably gathered by Florin Nita.
13th min: A chance for Romania. Dennis Man drives inside from the right flank before fizzing a left-footed shot over the bar.
20th min: GOAL! ROMANIA 0-1 NETHERLANDS (GAKPO)
Gakpo collects the ball on the left flank, and cuts onto his favoured right foot before driving a low shot inside the near post. Nita may be disappointed not to keep it out.
What a goal by Cody Gakpo!!! 😲#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/bqLnTHvvvI
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024
26th min: Some Dutch fans think it is in. Stefan de Vrij creeps in at the far post to head a deep corner into the side-netting.
44th min: Simons receives the ball in a glorious position in the centre of the box. But, he struggles to get it out of his feet and sends his shot harmlessly wide of Nita's goal.
HALF TIME: ROMANIA 0-1 NETHERLANDS
53rd min: How has that not gone in? Half-time substitute Malen sees his initial shot blocked, before Depay's follow-up effort ricochets off a couple of defenders. Nita finally grabs hold of the ball to ease the pressure on Romania.
58th min: Virgil van Dijk strikes the woodwork! The centre-back towers high to meet a corner and send his header crashing against the upright
62nd min: Gakpo sees his fierce long-range shot pushed around the post by an outstretched Nita
63rd min: Disallowed goal. Gakpo thought that he had grabbed a second from the subsequent corner, but his close-range shot was chalked off for an offside infringement.
67th min: Depay drives it wide. The forward fires a free kick under the Romanian wall, only to his strike whistle just wide of the near post.
73rd min: Another chance bypasses the Dutch. Substitute Joey Veerman attempts to pick out the far corner, but he can only send his low shot wide of Nita's goal.
83rd min: GOAL! ROMANIA 0-2 NETHERLANDS (MALEN)
Gakpo shows great tenacity to drive across the byline, keeping the ball in play to tee up Malen for a simple finish.
Donyell Malen doubles their lead!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024
The Netherlands are heading into the quarter-finals 🔜 #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/4IjGvPx8Gn
90+3 min: GOAL! ROMANIA 0-3 NETHERLANDS (MALEN)
It is Malen again. The Borussia Dortmund attacker fires into the bottom corner to round off a devasting counter-attack.
Donyell Malen has done it again!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024
The Netherlands are through to the quarter-finals 👏 #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/S0tBWYIAlN
FULL TIME: ROMANIA 0-3 NETHERLANDS
MAN OF THE MATCH - CODY GAKPO
© Reuters
Malen may have grabbed a double off the bench, but Gakpo has to be the man of the match after finishing the game with two goal contributions.
The opening goal helped set the tone for the contest because it halted Romania's momentum following their positive start and gave the Dutch a crucial confidence boost in their first outing since losing to Austria.
The Liverpool man also has to be commended for the determination that he showed to hold off Radu Dragusin to keep the ball in play in the process of setting up Malen for the Netherlands' second goal.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Malen may have had a simple finish for his first goal of the contest, but he showcased his skill and pace to produce a sensational solo effort to wrap up a brace.
After collecting the ball near the halfway line, Malen sprinted up the pitch and drove inside to create the angle to fire into the bottom corner.
He may have benefitted from a tiring Romania defence, but his performance surely puts him in the frame to start in the quarter-final.
BEST STATS
1+1 - At 25 years 56 days old, Cody Gakpo is the youngest @OnsOranje player to score and assist in a knockout match in a major tournament since Marco van Basten in the final of EURO 1988 (23 years, 238 days). Heroic. pic.twitter.com/UccKDV2eCX
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) July 2, 2024
3 - This is just the first time that @OnsOranje score more than once in the knockout stages of the EUROs since 25 June 2000 (6-1 against Yugoslavia), failing to do so in any of their five knockout matches in between. Emphatic.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/FDMIjlp9MK
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) July 2, 2024
MATCH STATS
Possession: Romania 35%-65% Netherlands
Shots: Romania 5-23 Netherlands
Shots on target: Romania 1-6 Netherlands
Corners: Romania 4-13 Netherlands
Fouls: Romania 8-9 Netherlands
LINEUPS
ROMANIA (4-1-4-1): Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Mogos (Racovitan 38'); Man, Stanciu (Olaru 88'), M Marin (Cicaldau 72'), R Marin, Hagi (Alibec 72'); Dragus (Mihaila 72')
NETHERLANDS (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake (Van de Ven 69'); Schouten (Veerman 69'), Simons, Reijnders; Bergwijn (Malen 46'), Gakpo (Weghorst 83'), Depay (Blind 90+2')
No Data Analysis info
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