Match Report: Romania and Slovakia Draw 1-1, Both Advance to Last 16Match Report: Romania and Slovakia Draw 1-1, Both Advance to Last 16 In a thrilling Group E clash, Romania and Slovakia played out a 1-1 draw, with both teams securing a spot in the last 16 of Euro 2024. First Half Action Slovakia opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Ondrej Duda headed home from a Juraj Kucka cross. However, Romania responded just 12 minutes later when Razvan Marin converted a penalty awarded after Ianis Hagi was fouled in the box. Second Half Highlights Despite the stalemate, both teams continued to attack with plenty of energy. Lukas Haraslin had a chance for Slovakia but his shot was saved by Romanian goalkeeper Florin Nita. The match was played in an electric atmosphere, with fans from both nations creating a lively and passionate spectacle. Group Standings With the draw, Romania finished top of Group E on goal difference, followed by Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The knockout stage matchups will be determined after the completion of the group stage on Wednesday. Romania’s Knockout Stage Debut This is the first time Romania has reached the knockout stages of a European Championship since 2000. Slovakia, meanwhile, will make their second appearance in the last 16, having reached the same stage in 2016. “We’re delighted to have made it to the last 16,” said Romania coach Edward Iordanescu. “It shows the progress we’ve made as a team and the spirit of these players.” “It was a tough game and a fair result,” said Slovakia coach Stefan Tarkovic. “We’re happy to be through and we’ll give everything in the next round.”
By Nick Said
FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) – Romania’s Razvan Marin scored a first-half penalty to cancel out Ondrej Duda’s headed goal for Slovakia as the teams played out a 1-1 Euro 2024 Group E draw on Wednesday with both reached the last sixteen.
All four teams in Group E finished on four points, with Romania taking first place based on goals scored by Belgium, and Slovakia finishing in third place, ahead of Ukraine on goal difference.
Romania and Slovakia will have to wait until the completion of the group stages on Wednesday to find out their last 16 opponents, but Belgium head to Dusseldorf and play France on Monday.
Romania reached the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time since 2000, while it will be Slovakia’s second appearance in the last 16 after 2016 when they lost to Germany.
The match in Frankfurt was played in a feverish atmosphere, where the enthusiasm in the stands was accompanied by the nervous character of a match that was not high-quality, but had a lot of entertainment and intrigue.
The teams came into the match knowing that a draw would be enough to send both through and there was plenty of talk during the build-up about the possibility of that happening, something the coaches vehemently denied.
There was certainly no lack of energy and commitment, which only slowed down towards the end of the match.
Slovakia opened the scoring midway through the first half with the easiest of goals that must have enraged Romanian coach Edward Iordanescu.
Juraj Kucka curled in a cross from the right and Duda was left unmarked between two defenders and headed across the goal and into the net.
Romania were limited to shots from distance, none of which troubled Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
That was until they were awarded a penalty when Ianis Hagi was felled by Slovakian defender David Hancko.
German referee Daniel Siebert initially awarded a free kick when the contact looked outside the penalty area, but compatriot Bastian Dankert in the Video Assistant Referee box ruled it in.
Marin made no mistake with the penalty as he fired it into the top corner, prompting a thunderous explosion of joy from the Romanian fans in the stadium, who seemed to outscore their Slovakian counterparts four to one.
Lukas Haraslin’s stormy run down the left flank created a shooting opportunity, but his fierce effort went straight to Romanian goalkeeper Florin Nita.
The Romanian fans sang along continuously throughout the second half. They only stopped for a moment when lightning struck near the stadium and there was a huge clap of thunder that even they couldn’t drown out.
Chances continued at both ends, with the handling made more difficult for the goalkeepers by a sudden heavy downpour as the heat turned to strong wind and rain, but both sets of supporters continued to celebrate wildly after the final whistle.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, Editing by Ed Osmond)
