Romania coasts to memorable win over Ukraine
Romania cruised to a 3-0 win over Ukraine in their Euro 2024 opener, with Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus scoring in their side's first victory at the European Championships for 24 years.
Ukraine dominated possession early on but a loose pass from Andriy Lunin put it in trouble after 29 minutes. Dennis Man intercepted and found Stanciu on the edge of the area, and the Romania skipper shaped a wonderful first-time effort into the top-left corner.
Sanciu later clipped the crossbar directly from a corner as Romania grew in stature, and it had its second goal seven minutes into the second half.
Marin came onto a loose ball and struck a low shot from 25 yards out, which Real Madrid goalkeeper Lunin allowed to squirm under his dive and into the bottom-right corner.
Ukraine's problems worsened within another four minutes, as Dragus stayed onside to tap Man's cross into an unguarded net following a short corner routine.
Roman Yaremchuk hit the crossbar with a lobbed attempt in stoppage time, but that was as close as Ukraine came to a goal, as Romania recorded their first win at the Euros since a memorable 3-2 victory dumped England out of the 2000 tournament.
Sanciu later clipped the crossbar directly from a corner as Romania grew in stature, and it had i second goal seven minutes into the second half.nch the modern ball-playing centre-back.
However, it was Man who played the starring role with two assists. He is the first Romanian player to tee up two goals in a major tournament game since the great Gheorghe Hagi against Colombia at the 1994 World Cup.