Romania U21 showcased an impressive performance against Montenegro U21, winning 6-2 in a crucial Euro 2025 qualifying match held in Nikšić. The victory not only solidified their position at the top of Group E but also highlighted the talents of key players like Louis Munteanu, who scored a hat-trick.
Key Takeaways
- Romania U21 defeated Montenegro U21 with a score of 6-2.
- Louis Munteanu scored three goals, marking his first career hat-trick.
- Romania now leads Group E with 19 points, ahead of Switzerland and Finland.
- The next decisive match is against Switzerland on October 15.
Match Overview
The match began with Romania U21 taking control early on. In the 16th minute, Louis Munteanu opened the scoring with a header from a well-placed cross by Alexandru Pantea. However, Montenegro quickly equalized in the 21st minute when Janjic scored directly from a corner kick, catching the Romanian defense off guard.
Romania regained the lead just six minutes later, with Munteanu scoring again, this time with a precise shot into the bottom corner. The first half ended with Romania leading 2-1.
Second Half Surge
The second half saw Romania increase their dominance. Rareș Ilie scored in the 52nd minute, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper after a brilliant pass from Borza. Octavian Popescu added another goal in the 59th minute, extending the lead to 4-1.
Montenegro managed to pull one back in the 70th minute through Mrvaljevic, but Munteanu quickly responded, completing his hat-trick in the 74th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Mihnea Rădulescu capped off the scoring for Romania in the 90th minute, marking his debut goal for the national team.
Group Standings
After this match, the standings in Group E are as follows:
| Position | Team | Matches | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romania U21 | 9 | 19 |
| 2 | Switzerland U21 | 9 | 18 |
| 3 | Finland U21 | 9 | 17 |
| 4 | Albania U21 | 9 | 13 |
| 5 | Montenegro U21 | 9 | 7 |
| 6 | Armenia U21 | 9 | 2 |
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Romania U21 is in a strong position to qualify for the Euro 2025 tournament. They must secure a win against Switzerland in their next match to guarantee their top spot in the group. The match is set to take place on October 15, and it promises to be a thrilling encounter as Romania aims to maintain their momentum and secure their place in the tournament.
Sources
- România U21 a făcut spectacol cu Muntenegru! Final DRAMATIC în Elveția – Finlanda: golul din prelungiri a schimbat clasamentul în grupă, GSP.
- România U21, victorie zdrobitoare în Muntenegru! Louis Munteanu, hattrick de senzație în preliminariile Campionatului European – GOLAZO.ro, HotNews.
- Muntenegru U21 – România U21 2-6, ACUM pe digisport.ro. GOOL! Louis Munteanu reușește ”hat-trick-ul”, Digi Sport.
- Muntenegru U21 – România U21 2-6, ACUM pe digisport.ro. GOOL! Louis Munteanu reușește ”hat-trick-ul”, Digi Sport.
- Muntenegru U21 – România U21 2-6 pe Pro Arena și VOYO! "Tricolorii" s-au impus la scor și visează la EURO 2025 | Sport.ro, Sport.ro.
