România 1. Lobonþ 6. Popescu 5. Chivu 3. Rãdoi 4. Filipescu 2. Contra 7. Codrea 8. Munteanu 11. Pancu 9. Ganea 10. Mutu Antrenor Anghel Iordãnescu Danemarca 1. Sorenesen 3. Henriksen 4. Laursen 5. Jensen 2. Rytter 7. Gravesen 8. Poulsen 9. Tomasson 10. Ebbe Sand 11. Lovenkrands 10. Rommedahl Antrenor Morten Olsen
Welcome to Bucharest for live coverage of the UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 2 fixture between Romania and Denmark. One of these sides will overtake group leaders Norway - who do not play today. Denmark must win, while Romania need only avoid defeat 1' Romania have made a positive start - for both teams this match is crucial, especially the home team, who started with a 1-0 loss to Norway before beating Luxembourg 7-0. The match begins on a rutted pitch. 3' Most of the play is in the Danish half, but the visitors are holding solid.
5' The ball is cleared, only for Romania to win a free-kick 25 metres out on the right. 5' Romania have the lead through Adrian Mutu, who heads in Vlad Munteanu's free-kick. 5' Mutu(Romania ) Goal 1-0
1-1 9' GOL: Rommedahl (Denmark) - Ebbe Sand headed the ball towards the goal Lobonþ punched out just for Rommedahl to push the ball into the net .
11' After a goal out of the blue for Denmark, Romania must regroup in a game they were dominating. 15' Romania win a free-kick for a foul by a Danish attacker following the corner. Laursen(Denmark yellow card) 18' The 50,000 home crowd remain in good voice despite seeing their side's early lead pegged back. 19' Paul Codrea's cross is bloked by Danish left-back René Henriksen of Panathinaikos FC.
20' Romania go close as Munteanu (Wolfsburg)shoot just over from 20 metres. 21' Despite the lack of grass on areas of the pitch, this is proving a good quality encounter, Romania passing excellently and Denmark producing the swift attacks that impressed in the first round in Korea/Japan 23' Mutu who plays for Parma handles as he controls the ball in the Romanian box, ending a swift home break 24' Cosmin Contra ( Atletico Madrid) bamboozles Gravesen with his skills on the right, but cannot get height on his cross. Corner for Rumania.
Shot from Ganea ( Stuttgard) hits the side netting 30' It has been an exciting first half-hour, though Denmark are possibly fortunate to have been able to draw level and stay on terms, despite their obvious pace and attacking verve. 33' Jan Michaelsen looks set to come on for Denmark. 34' Michaelsen replaces Rytter.
36' Romania are playing possession football currently, seeking to reduce the pace of the game. 36' Tomasson ( Sunderland) takes the ball away from Codrea and is alone on with the Rumanian goalkeeper Lobonþ,tried to dribble around but the goalkeeper was able to push the ball away and Rumania escapes going down to 1-2. .
39' Romania remain the side on top, but there is no doubt that Denmark's pace is proving a real thorn in their side, even if that was not how the equaliser resulted. 40' Mirel Radoi ( Steaua) has gone down after a clash of heads with team-mate Chivu (Ajax), as both challenge in the air for the same ball 44' A nice Romanian move deep in Danish territory ends with a Ganea cross deflected for a corner. 45' Munteanu fall inside the penalty area after contact with Gravesen( Everton), no penalty End of First Half
Second Half 46' The games resumes with Denmark hoping Jørgensen can add energy to the left side of midfield. Martin Jørgensen of Udinese Calcio has come on for the second half, replacing Peter Lovenkrands. 47' Mutu skips past two Danish defenders on the left, and pulls the ball back to the onrushing Munteanu, who powerfully shoots in to give Romania the perfect start to the half. Munteanu(Romania ) Goal 2-1 48' Superb Mutu skills left the right side of the Danish defence bamboozled - but the home side's challenge now is to hold on to the lead this time.
50' Michaelsen's strong challenge breaks up a promising Romanian move - as they sought to find Mutu. 51' Laursen ( AC Milan) seems seriously hurt after pulling up and holding his left leg as he looked to turn after winning the ball from Mutu, who is booked for his challenge. Danes on the attack 54 GOL: Gravesen (Denmark) 2-2
53' Lobont emerges from his box to beat Sand to a through-ball - but Gravesen receives the clearance 45 metres out and his ambitious lob flies into the net as Lobont attempts to get back. 54' Again Denmark equalise quickly - Gravesen doing superbly, the ball looping in on a seemingly perfect arc. 55' Even the home fans have been stunned by that moment - Lobont seemed to have done well to ensure Sand would not get to the ball...
60' Denmark have their own spell of pressure, Niclas Jensen eventually winning a corner. 61' Gravesen slips on his run in...gets up, takes the corner, and Sand heads the ball at the relieved Lobont from close range. Reghecampf ( Energie Cottbus) replaces Codrea in the Rumanian midfield,his first cap. 63' Romania are again the side on top, but getting past the determined Danish defence is not proving easy
64' Rommedahl (PSV Eindhoven)takes a shot Lobonþ holds. The home fans are still in good voice - they certainly feel their side can get a third goal. more subs for the Rumanian team 69' Bratu shows some early skills on the Romanian left. 68' Pancu comes off after a goood performance. 68' Bratu (in) - Pancu (out)(Romania )
70' Romania are keeping the Danes pinned in their own half - this looks like the home side's chance to win the game. 71' Contra gets a yellow for a foul on Gravesen. 71' GOOL: Tomasson ( Denmark) 2-3 Tomasson puts Denmark ahead as he pounces on a defensive header from Reghecampf after a Weighorst cross to head the ball in. 72' Tomasson scored seven goals in World Cup qualifying and now has four in this competition
Disaster for Rumania, Contra with an own goal now, what a game ! 2-4 73' Contra puts through an own goal as Rommedahl crosses and Tomasson misses the ball. The ball then strikes the surprised right-back, deflecting in. 74' A double shock for Romania - who three minutes ago looked favourite to win. The first was from a weak header back to Lobont pounced on by Tomasson, and then the striker got away with missing the ball from a cross, as behind him was Contra, who had no time to get out of the way. 75' Romania are deflated by the goals, but are still pushing to get back into the game.
79' Reghecampf tried a lob over the danish goalie Sorensen, who was out of his goal , but the ball went over the bar 80' Munteanu takes a shot from 30 meters but Sorensen saves. Romania are beginning to become frustrated - they have already lost at home in the competition to Norway
counter attack Denmark 82' Tomasson shoot from 16 meters Lobonþ saves 83' It seems time is running out for Romania, who will be unlucky to have lost - especially considering how the three second-half Danish goals came.
89' in position with the empty goal sends the ball out ,big miss 93' GOOL: Rommedahl (Denmark) - Rommedahl and Ebbe Sand nice combination scores from inside the box,lifting the ball over Lobonþ FINAL 2-5