The final Group E match between Romania and Slovakia ended in a tight 1-1 tie on Wednesday, guaranteeing both teams a spot in the round of 16. Slovakia took the lead through a first-half penalty kick from Ondrej Duda, but Razvan Marin of Romania equalized before halftime.
Romania came out victorious in the group, scoring more goals than Belgium in second place, despite all four sides in the group receiving four points from their three games.
Slovakia reached third position due to a greater goal differential than Ukraine, which finished in fourth place. For Romania, who are playing in the European Championship knockout stages for the first time in 24 years, it was a historic occasion.
In their five Euro appearances, Romania had never once advanced to the round of 16, but Edward Iordanescu’s determined team had put an end to that lengthy run.
They mounted a feisty display in response to Iordanescu’s pre-match appeal to create “history,” spurred on by their army of boisterous supporters who transformed the stadium into a sea of yellow.
For the third time in history, Slovakia has made it to the main tournament’s knockout stages. They qualified for the round of 16 in both the 2010 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship. Cynics had predicted that both teams would grind out a mutually advantageous draw, knowing that a draw would advance both teams.
Romania had a quick start, settling for a point.
When Andrei Ratiu’s blistering shot was deflected by Martin Dubravka and Ianis Hagi smashed the rebound over the bar, they looked to have taken the lead early on.
Just as Romania made an attempt to build on their early lead, Marin curled a long-range free kick just wide. Lukas Haraslin’s free kick almost slipped in at the far post, going through a mass of men and putting Slovakia just inches from taking the lead.
Romania disregarded the warning, and Slovakia took the lead in the twenty-fourth minute.
With the Romanian defense frozen in place, Juraj Kucka sent in a deep cross that allowed the unmarked Duda to smash his header past Florin Nita from eight yards away.
Romania responded forcefully, leveling the score in the 37th minute after a cutting attack by the son of former Real Madrid and Barcelona player Gheorghe Hagi.
VAR handed a penalty for David Hancko’s foul on Hagi, even though referee Daniel Siebert first claimed the play had occurred just outside the area.
The multitude of Romanian supporters in the arena transformed into a wild mosh-pit when Marin went up to blast the spot-kick high into the net’s roof.
In the second half, the intense heat of Frankfurt gave way to a fierce storm filled with rain, lightning, and thunder.
The dramatic setting was appropriate for the tense match, which nearly went Romanian’s way when Marin pushed Dubravka into a brilliant save and Denis Dragus skimmed the net.
Though there was no winner, both teams celebrated making it to the knockout stage after Haraslin’s curler sailed beyond the far post as the storm subsided.
