NEW DELHI: Belgium secured a 2-0 victory over Romania in a thrilling Euro 2024 Group E match on Saturday, thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne. The win resulted in all four teams in the group—Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine—being level on three points after two rounds. This unprecedented situation sets the stage for a decisive final round.
The match took place in Cologne, in an electric atmosphere, with fans on the edge of their seats throughout. Belgium's Tielemans scored just 73 seconds into the game, setting the tone for an attacking performance. Late in the game, De Bruyne added a second goal, which could prove crucial in determining group standings.
"We were very relieved we won the game, it was very important to get three points," Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco was quoted as saying by Reuters after the game.
Ukraine defeated Slovakia 2-1 on Friday, leaving all group teams with three points each. The final matches of the group stage will see Belgium face Ukraine and Slovakia take on Romania.
A team could advance or be eliminated with just four points, with goal difference potentially playing a key role. Romania and Belgium currently hold a slight edge with a plus-one goal difference, Slovakia sits at zero, while Ukraine is at minus two.
Belgium, ranked third in the world by FIFA, appeared transformed from their sluggish opening game defeat to Slovakia. From the match's beginning, Belgium displayed energy and intent. Romelu Lukaku played a key role, assisting Tielemans, who executed a precise low shot to open the scoring.
Romania almost equalized four minutes later with a header by Radu Dragusin, but Koen Casteels made an excellent save. Belgium dominated the first half, with several chances from Dodi Lukebakio, Amadou Onana, and De Bruyne, whose performances continually tested Romania's defense.
The Romanian fans were unwavering in their support, creating an incredible atmosphere despite Belgium’s relentless attacks. Jeremy Doku's cross nearly connected with Lukaku, and De Bruyne even had another shot narrowly miss the goalpost.
Lukaku seemed to have doubled Belgium's lead an hour into the match, but VAR disallowed it for offside. This was the second time in the tournament Lukaku had goals ruled out by VAR, following a similar instance against Slovakia.
The end-to-end match saw another twist as Romania's Dennis Man went clean through, only to shoot directly at Casteels. Belgium’s second goal came in an unexpected manner. Goalkeeper Casteels launched a goal kick that bypassed everyone, allowing the quick-thinking De Bruyne to score, sealing the win.
The victory keeps Belgium's hopes alive for advancing beyond the group stage. Romania, despite the loss, remains in contention to reach the knockout rounds for only the second time in their history. Romania has not qualified for the last six World Cups since their golden era in the 1990s.
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