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Euro 2024: Malen Scores Twice as Netherlands Beat Romania, Advance to Quarterfinals |
The Netherlands have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Euro 2024 Championship in Germany after a decisive 3-0 victory over Romania in their round of 16 match on Tuesday.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo opened the scoring with his third goal of the tournament, and Donyell Malen added two more late in the game, showcasing a strong performance that saw the Dutch team regain their form.
The Dutch team had faced heavy criticism from local media and fans for their poor defensive performance in their final group game, a 3-2 loss to Austria. However, they displayed greater composure and control in this match, reaching the Euro quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.
Gakpo gave the Netherlands the lead after 20 minutes with a low, angled shot that beat goalkeeper Florin Nita at his near post. Malen then secured the victory with two late goals, setting up a quarterfinal clash with either Austria or Turkey, who play later on Friday in Berlin.
The Netherlands dominated possession, controlling two-thirds of the game and creating nearly five times more chances than Romania. Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header, and Gakpo had a second goal disallowed for offside, underlining their superiority throughout the match.
