Romania 0-3 Netherlands: Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo score as Dutch reach quarters

Substitute Donyell Malen scored twice and Cody Gakpo obtained his third aim of Euro 2024 to assist the Netherlands see off a spirited Romania and attain the quarter-finals of the match for the primary time in 16 years.

Liverpool ahead Gakpo opened the scoring with a superb end halfway via the primary half, chopping inside earlier than unleashing a drive into the underside nook.

The Netherlands missed quite a few possibilities after that, however made positive they didn’t threat paying for it when substitute Malen stabbed in late on from Gakpo’s ball.

Malen then wrapped up a powerful win for the Netherlands, with Romania having dedicated gamers ahead, as he charged in on aim earlier than slotting residence.

It was a much-improved efficiency from the Netherlands, who needed to take care of early stress from an enthusiastic Romania, who had been backed by their loud and vibrant followers.

Romania’s early urgent compelled their opponents into errors and so they gave them a scare when Dennis Man fizzed a shot simply over.

However Gakpo’s aim modified the sample of the sport and so they may have gone additional forward simply earlier than the break, however Xavi Simons one way or the other fired vast.

Romania once more got here out combating within the second half but it surely was the Netherlands who continued to have the higher possibilities as Memphis Depay failed to attain from shut vary, Virgil van Dijk hit the put up with a header and Gakpo’s shot after a driving run was pushed behind.

However Malen, who had come on at half-time, scored twice within the closing 10 minutes to keep away from any late drama, and the Netherlands can now look ahead to going through both Turkey or a rematch with their group opponents Austria within the final eight.