Article by Darius Stanescu – published on Thursday, July 03, 2025, 23:17 / Updated Thursday, July 3, 2025 23:17
Liverpool's Portuguese footballer, Diogo Jota, and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a tragic road accident in northern Spain, as they headed for the port to take the evening ferry to the United Kingdom.
Diogo Jota has twice met Romania U21 in qualifications for the European U21 Championship in 2019. He was the captain and leader of his generation
Diogo Jota, then captain in Portugal U21, played twice in the qualifications for the 2019 Youth against Romania. The Jota was a colleague at that time with other today's stars such as Ruben Dias, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix or Diogo Dalot.
The tour match between Portugal and Romania was disputed in November 2017 in Ovidiu and ended on a draw, 1-1.
The Lusitanians opened the scoring in the 16th minute, through Diogo Goncalves. Diogo Jota was noted in the duel against Romania and had two great opportunities to distance themselves from the national “tricolor”, but did not take care of them.
The small “tricolors”, at that time, were under Daniel Isăilă, reduced the difference by Dennis Man, in the 66th minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7rxmi9mpu
The return took place in Portugal, in September 2018, on Estadio Capital Do Movel, the Stadium of the Portuguese 2 League team, Pacos de Ferreira. The two teams entered the booths, in a draw, 0-0.
The match between the two nationals proved to be a “crazy” one and in our end. The “tricolors” who were then trained by the new coach Mirel Rădoi scored twice in the second half, through Alexandru Cicâldău and Andrei Ivan, within 7 minutes, more precisely in the 52 and 59 minutes.
The youth select of Romania, with an advantage of 2 goals against Portugal, first through Ionuț Nedelcearu, being eliminated in the 70th minute, after two yellow cards received. 15 minutes after this incident that could have cost our qualification at the final tournament, Portugal scored through Joao Carvalho.
One minute before the end, Ivan was also sent to the locker rooms, the “tricolors” remaining in 9. The Portuguese had a great opportunity to equal the last phase of the match.
The Lusitanians had the chance to equalize the penalty, but Ionuț Radu was the “angel” of the national youth and defended Carvalho's hit, the scorer of Portugal.
Romania finally won the “fire” duel with Portugal, ensuring its qualification at the European U21 Championship, hosted by Italy and San Marino.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqorvkz9ke0
Romania finished in the first place of Group 8, with 24 points, while Portugal obtained 22 points, with 2 less than the “tricolors”, finishing the group on the second place and securing its place on the dam.
At the dam, Portugal met Poland. In the two sleeves, Captain Jota scored twice, but these goals were insufficient to ensure the qualification of the Lusitani at the final tournament.
