At Voluntari, the U19 football team of Romania, prepared by Ion Marin, was defeated by the similar representative of Spain, the holder of the title, with a score of 3-1 (1-0), on Monday evening, in Voluntari, in a group A of the European Under-19 football championship, the final tournament hosted by our country.
The national U19 of Romania, in the match of Voluntari
The result comes a few days after the Iberian youth national team kidnapped 2-1 U21, at the final Continental Tournament in Slovakia.
Spain U19 won through the goals scored by Antonio Cordero (3), Jon Martin (67) and Alejandro Monserrate (73), respectively Luca Szimionaș (50). The match started practically from 1-0 for Iberians, who scored through Cordero. He sent to the empty gate, after a random output of the Portar Munteanu.
Romania then had the initiative and even managed to create some opportunities in the first half. In min. 35, Barbu seemed to be done in Martin's box, but the referee did not give a penalty.
Romania had very good moments and after the break in front of the group's favorite, but Gua was blocked by Cuenca at the time of the shot (50). A few seconds later, Szimionaș (50) shot from about 28 meters, the ball was diverted by Martin and surprised the goalkeeper Raul Jimenez.
Spain managed to take over the lead after a fixed phase: Cordero performed a corner, and Jon Martin escaped the mark and resumed his head (67). Dani Diaz (71) was close to increased difference, but his shot bypassed the long corner. Vermeșan (72) sent quite well with his head, but the ball passed over the gate.
In min. 73, the Spaniards achieved an effective combination, Alejandro Monserrate, shooting from the center of the box, after Janneh's pass, the ball rejected by Munteanu in the bar entering the gate.
Until the end, the team coached by Ion Marin – “Săpăligă” had only one opportunity, through the same Guța (83), but the Jimenez River rejected from the short corner. Munteanu was also noted at the shots of Dani Diaz (78), Merino (81) and Gonzalo Pastor (90+1).
In the other party of the group, Denmark was 5-0, through the goals scored by Villum Berthelsen (9), Mike Themsen (32, 52) and Jonathan Agyekum (68, 74).
Spain is in the first place with 6 points and won the group, to evolve in the semifinals against the team ranked in the second place in Group B. Denmark ranks second, with 3 points (+4), Romania is the third, with 3 points (-1), and Montenegro is the last, without any point. In the first stage, Romania defeated Montenegro by 2-1.
On Thursday, June 19, the last matches in Group A, Montenegro – Spain (“Ilie Oană” – Ploiești, will take place, 8 pm) and Denmark – Romania (“Arc de Triomphe” – Bucharest, 20.00). Romania needs a victory to qualify in the semifinals.
Romania once more hosted the final tournament of the competition, in 2011, when it ended the group A in the last place, with an equal (0-0 with Ireland) and two defeats (1-3 with the Czech Republic, the future finalist, and 0-1 with Greece). The title was then conquered by Spain.
