Late Malen brace sends Dutch into quarters with 3-0 win over Romania

Netherlands' Donyell Malen celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Memphis Depay during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Romania and The Netherlands at the Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Donyell Malen scored a late brace as the Netherlands defeated Romania 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, after they wasted a host of chances earlier in the match.

Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo had a brilliant performance and scored the opener in the 20th minute.

What followed was a festival of missed opportunities, that included captain Virgil van Dijk hitting the post and a offside goal from Gakpo, before substitute Malen secured success in the 83rd and in the third minute of stoppage time.

Romania were never really out of the game befor Malen's efforts, but also didn't manage to create any real threat, when one goal could have been enough to keep their dream alive.

The Netherlands will now meet either group stage opponents Austria or Turkey in the quarter-finals on July 6 in Berlin, where they were defeated 3-2 by the Austrians a week ago.

Netherlands' Donyell Malen celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Romania and The Netherlands at the Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpa
Netherlands' Donyell Malen scores his side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Romania and The Netherlands at the Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpa

© Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH