Belgium responds to Romania and makes…

Belgium was under pressure after a false start to the European Football Championship, and held out in the second match against Romania. Thanks to a fast start and a late goal, they achieved an important 2-0 win over Romania, keeping Group E completely open.

With a convincing performance, Belgium made an impressive comeback in the European Championship after their shock defeat in the opening match. The third place finisher at the 2018 World Cup deservedly beat Romania 2-0 (1-0) in Cologne, and had the lead on the final day of the match in its hands.

Youri Tielemans scored in the second minute and captain Kevin De Bruyne (80) scored the winning goal for the Red Devils, who, like all other teams in Group E, now have three points on their account. This means that next Wednesday (6pm) there will be an emotional final match for a place in the round of 16. Belgium will then face Ukraine in Stuttgart, while Romania will face Slovakia in Frankfurt.

The coach is spinning

As happened in the 0-1 defeat at the start of the European Championship against Slovakia, the Belgians had to do without their veteran player Axel Witsel. The former Bundesliga pro from Borussia Dortmund stayed at the team headquarters and kept his fingers crossed for his teammates in front of the television.

Coach Domenico Tedesco has rotated properly after a solid start to the tournament and has changed his starting positions to four. Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Thiati made their European Championship debuts, while Tielemans and Dodi Lukebakio were also allowed to play from the start.

The beginning of the dream

Tedesco was on point, because just 73 seconds later, Tielemans took the lead with a low shot after an assist from Romelu Lukaku. It was the third fastest goal in European Championship history, which also delighted King Philippe of Belgium in the stands.

The Romanians, who started the tournament with a convincing 3-0 win over Ukraine, did not take long to respond. Radu Dragosin had the opportunity to quickly equalize after just three minutes, but Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels headed his header over the crossbar.

However, the Red Devils were more aggressive and Lukaku made it 2-0 after less than 15 minutes. However, the powerful striker's shot was blocked by the Romanian defender at the last minute.

Goalkeeper in the middle

Shortly afterwards, Lukebakio was denied by Florin Neita's brilliant shot into the Romanian goal. The 36-year-old saved his side from falling further behind on the half-hour mark with a brilliant save from Jeremy Doku's shot.

Led by the precise distributors of the ball De Bruyne and Amadou Onana, the Belgians tirelessly attacked the goal of their opponents, who reached the knockout stage for the first and last time in a European Championship 24 years ago. But they lacked the necessary efficiency in finishing attacks, so they entered the break with a narrow lead.

Lukaku remains the unlucky man

Even after the change, Tedesco's team maintained a high pace. De Bruyne could have increased the lead twice, but the English Premier League champion Manchester City star was unlucky at first in the end.

Doku also failed to extend the lead. His shot, just over an hour later, fell into the side netting. Shortly afterwards, Lukaku shot the ball better, but was offside when De Bruyne crossed the ball. Lukaku had already scored two goals and had two goals disallowed against Slovakia on Monday.

Belgium's surplus of chances were almost avenged when Onana's header headed back to Dennis Mann. But Castiles saved against the free Roman. Not only did the Belgian goalkeeper shine in defence, but his long ball went high past De Bruyne, who took the decision ten minutes from time. (APA/DPA)