Netherlands Crush Romania, Advance to Quarterfinals with 3-0 Triumph The Netherlands secured their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a dominant 3-0 victory over Romania on Saturday. Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo were the stars for the Dutch, each finding the back of the net with clinical strikes. From the opening whistle, the Netherlands controlled the tempo and dictated the play. Their crisp passing and intelligent movement stretched the Romanian defense, creating numerous scoring opportunities. In the 17th minute, Malen broke the deadlock. The Borussia Dortmund forward latched onto a through ball from Vivianne Miedema and finished with a composed low drive into the bottom corner. Just seven minutes later, Gakpo doubled the advantage. The PSV Eindhoven winger cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a powerful shot that left the Romanian goalkeeper helpless. Romania struggled to create any meaningful chances in the first half, as the Dutch defense remained resolute. The second half saw a similar pattern, with the Netherlands continuing to dominate possession and search for more goals. In the 70th minute, Malen sealed the victory with his second of the game. The 23-year-old received a pass from Lieke Martens and fired a stunning volley into the top corner from the edge of the box. With the victory, the Netherlands maintained their perfect record in the tournament. They will now face the winner of the match between Japan and Sweden in the quarterfinals. For Romania, the defeat marked the end of their World Cup journey. They had impressed in the group stage but were ultimately outplayed by a stronger Netherlands side. The Netherlands’ victory highlights their status as one of the favorites to lift the trophy in Australia and New Zealand. Their attacking prowess and defensive solidity make them a formidable opponent for any team.Netherlands Reach Quarter-Finals with Triumph Over RomaniaNetherlands Reach Quarter-Finals with Triumph Over Romania Substitute Donyell Malen’s brace and Cody Gakpo’s third goal of Euro 2024 propelled the Netherlands to a resounding victory over Romania, securing their first quarter-final appearance at the tournament in 16 years. Gakpo, Liverpool’s potent striker, opened the scoring with a stunning finish, cutting inside and unleashing a shot into the bottom corner. Despite the Netherlands missing several opportunities, Malen ensured their dominance by connecting with a pass from Gakpo for a late header. Malen capped off the Netherlands’ impressive performance with a second goal in the dying minutes, capitalizing on Romania’s commitment to attack. In contrast to their lackluster start against Ukraine, the Netherlands displayed a much-improved performance. They withstood early pressure from Romania, whose enthusiastic fans created a vibrant atmosphere. Dennis Man’s shot narrowly missed the target, threatening the Dutch defense. However, Gakpo’s goal turned the tide, and Xavi Simons missed a chance to extend their lead before halftime. Romania fought hard in the second half, but the Netherlands maintained their edge. Memphis Depay missed a close-range opportunity, while Virgil van Dijk’s header hit the post. Malen’s goals in the final 10 minutes ultimately sealed the victory. The Netherlands now await their quarter-final opponents, either Turkey or Austria, with confidence following their impressive performance against Romania.Romania’s Euro 2020 campaign came to an end on Monday as they were defeated 3-0 by the Netherlands in the last 16. Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo scored in the first half to give the Dutch a comfortable lead. Memphis Depay added a third in the second half to seal the victory. Romania struggled to create chances throughout the match and were unable to test Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The Dutch will now face either Portugal or Belgium in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Romania’s defeat means that all four of their Eastern European rivals have now been eliminated from the tournament.