Cody Gakpo, whose remarkable prowess shone brightly on the field, was in superb form as he put Romania to the sword. With an impressive display of skill and determination, he not only found the back of the net himself but also set up an excellent assist, paving the way for Malen to score twice and secure a commanding victory for the Dutch side.
As the match unfolded, the stakes were high for both teams. The Netherlands sought to advance to their first European Championship quarter-final since 2008, while Romania harbored ambitions of achieving their first qualification for the last-eight since 2000. Despite their varying group stage standings, the performances on the day did not mirror the teams’ respective positions.
The opening goal came just 19 minutes into the game, when Cody Gakpo, displaying finesse and precision, skillfully cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner, propelling the Dutch team into the lead.
Throughout the first half, Ronald Koeman’s side asserted their dominance on the field, controlling possession and applying relentless pressure on the Romanian defense. However, the ability to translate this superiority into clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities proved to be a challenge for the Oranje.
Undeterred, they continued to carve open the Romanian defense in the second half, showcasing a fluid and cohesive attacking style that demanded unwavering resilience from their opponents’ backline.
Ultimately, the persistence and determination of the Dutch team bore fruit, as Gakpo capitalized on an opportunity, dispossessing the otherwise excellent Radu Dragusin in the box and setting up a goal for Donyell Malen, who expertly finished the chance.
To conclude the emphatic victory, Malen added a third goal in the final moments of injury time, serving as the exclamation point on the Dutch triumph and compounding the disappointment for Romania.
World of sports 
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