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  • 2 days ago
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00:01So here on the far side, pointing back to Zubi Zaretta, the best of clearances from the Spanish goalkeeper.
00:07Here's an opportunity for Romania.
00:11And Illy there puts it way off target.
00:15What a great opportunity for this young man.
00:18You see another youngster, you saw a 23-year-old a minute ago in Stinga, now 22 in Illy with a huge gap in the defence there.
00:26As said, Lopez was pulled way out of position.
00:30And Romania intelligently punished it, as we're looking out at a reverse angle.
00:36There is a weakness about his game, it's on set plays.
00:42He's asked for a four-man ball.
00:45Zubi Zaretta, we know all about Taji and his free kicks.
00:51Now the back heel, and the shot, deflecting just wide.
00:55Popescu there, in his 65th appearance today for Romania.
01:02Well, initially it looked like a little bit of confusion on the part of the Romanians, but it ended up being a very nice shot from Popescu, and then the caramount for the corner finish.
01:12With some help in front, but he might have utilised.
01:16Spain, and now their shots charged out by one of the Roman players.
01:21And a goal against the run of play, and Maharin, with some very cool finishing, slots it in.
01:28Romania has been punished, but Spain are in the lead.
01:36Well, talk about being handed a gift, and unexpected the ball rolls loose.
01:42Two players from Romania hesitate moving towards it.
01:45Women on the Shelemesh, from the right of your screen here, does not react fast enough.
01:51And the ball slips over, as we're looking at a reverse angle, no, it's not a reverse angle, that's the original angle.
01:58And a tremendous opportunity, a caram, a loose ball, a hesitant Romanian defence, and a beautifully placed shot by Maharin.
02:07Didn't overpower it, just picked his spot and slipped it in by the post.
02:11And that's the goal Spain has been looking for.
02:14They finally go ahead, they lead for the first time in Euro 96.
02:18Maharin, his second international goal, he scored his other one in the 3-0 victory over Macedonia in the final qualifying match.
02:28Sheamus, in all these competitions, whether it's European Championships, or whether it's World Cup Final Series,
02:33that a team will play a couple of games, they'll lose them, they'll get eliminated, and then they come out and play like this.
02:40His run of choice, and he's tied it up.
02:46Spectacular goal from Romania.
02:47Spectacular goal from the build-up at the back, the same kind of play we've seen out of them all afternoon.
02:55Terrific passing in the back.
02:56We're seeing the tail end of it here, as one ball beats three defenders.
03:00Beautifully timed run from Ratajou, beating the offside trap, and slotting it past Zubis Arena,
03:07without any problems whatsoever, but a delightful ball played through by Elia.
03:10And Ratajou, head down, now looks up, picks his spot, and another weakness of Zubis Arena, by the way,
03:17often claimed, is that he is not very good on one-on-one breakaways like this.
03:22Doesn't get down very well, doesn't cover much of the goal, shows a lot of the far post,
03:26and Ratajou is just much too good to give away that kind of a chance.
03:30So, one-one, 29 minutes gone.
03:33And Romania, some delightful football, are rewarded by a tying goal.
03:42Spain have got the free kick.
03:45As I was saying, when Ratajou went through there, his first goal in the final series,
03:49he's a goal scorer in Spain.
03:56Now, Spain springing players forward quickly.
04:02The shot coming in, and a brilliant save by Brunei.
04:07Maharin again, testing the Romanian goalkeeper.
04:12Well, a great lay-back from Pizzi here, and Maharin doesn't hesitate,
04:18just waits for it to come up for him on the volley.
04:21And that one is going, well, it might just hit a crossbar, or dipped in under.
04:27The wall starts to inch forward the moment the referee turns his back.
04:32Well, don't they all?
04:36Giro, straight against the wall, and the second time, and now the shot.
04:40The flag is up, it won't count.
04:45Amavisca there was a player who was caught offside.
04:49Well, there's the shot into the wall, and I watched all the Romanian players pull out,
04:53and there are two Spanish players offside.
04:55Comes right to Amavisca.
04:56And Nadal, trying to use his height there.
05:09Sergi.
05:11Through Sergi, going all the way through!
05:13Well, nobody closed him down.
05:17And Sergi, who's only ever scored one international goal,
05:22wasn't too far wide this time.
05:24Once again, players marked up.
05:27Marked up very well by the Romanian defenders.
05:30And so he sees an opening at the near post, and let's fly.
05:3325 minutes left in their Euro 96 run.
05:38If they don't get a goal here.
05:41This is the game, they've got to win.
05:44And to do that, they've got to score.
05:47Yeah, a nice turn.
05:49Here's a great opportunity.
05:50A marvellous save by Pune.
05:55Well, there was the chance.
05:56Was there for Amavisca.
05:59He got himself in that position once before and scored,
06:01but he was offside.
06:03This time he plays a nice little one-two
06:05and gets the ball back from Alfonso.
06:08Turns beautifully inside Popescu.
06:11But he's...
06:12With a lot of pace.
06:16It really caused a few problems.
06:20Very diligent at the back.
06:22Now the ball, good reverse ball.
06:24It's onside.
06:25Ball cut back.
06:26Great opportunity.
06:27It's blocked.
06:28And cleared away.
06:30Romania a little bit dangerously.
06:32And Iero there can't believe it.
06:35Now, Haji.
06:37And this is where Romania are dangerous.
06:39On the counter-attack.
06:40You can see Radiccio going through to the centre-forward channel.
06:44And Zubi Zarela got there first.
06:46Oh, action from both ends.
06:51Superb football from both teams.
06:52And hard to imagine how Spain could have contrived to miss that opportunity.
06:56But here they are back again.
06:58But here they are back again.
06:59This one comes across.
07:01Pune this time.
07:03Grabs it gratefully.
07:04Oh, tremendous action at the end.
07:11We're going to see the chance that fell to Iero.
07:14Reverse angle.
07:15How did they miss it?
07:16What a wonderful turn in here, too.
07:19Beautiful play by Kiko.
07:21Goes to the line.
07:22He's got all kinds of help.
07:23And there's the shot.
07:24And scuffed badly by Iero.
07:27Takes the winners.
07:28Basically just hit them straight against the wall.
07:30And he's faced the game by a five-man wall.
07:33I'm just wondering if Spain this time might come up with something a little bit different.
07:37Looks as if they're going to work something different.
07:38The number 18 there is Amor.
07:40Iero.
07:42That was very, very close.
07:43Ooh, that was right on target this time by getting over around the wall.
07:50A beautiful shot around the wall, but going for the upper corner.
07:55But not quite over to the corner.
07:57Actually, it goes right over to the center.
07:59But it looked a little closer, the initial shot, than it did on the replay.
08:03Rene never worried about it.
08:05Season on Spanish football really hurt a great deal.
08:08Although I'm sure Clemente will hear about this if they don't win.
08:14Good save, Rene.
08:15Good save.
08:15He punched that one away.
08:16Iero again right on the edge of the area.
08:19Shot is blocked.
08:21Romania throwing bodies in the way.
08:23I'll tell you, they've not thrown in the towel as this one comes across.
08:27The header down is a great opportunity.
08:29And Spain have taken the lead.
08:32Amor is the goal scorer.
08:34And Spain are ahead.
08:41The substitute, the number 18 Amor, scores with less than seven minutes to go.
08:49And it's business as usual for Spain.
08:52The late goal, a great intercepting header.
08:54And then for a change, a surprise shot to the far post.
08:58And a good centering header.
09:00And look at that dive by Amor.
09:02As Alfonso laid back this ball from the header.
09:06Cross comes in.
09:07Now watch Alfonso rise beautifully, flick it back down.
09:10And then a low diving header as the ball bounced awkwardly for Amor.
09:14But he put it in without hesitation.
09:17Sergei's cross over.
09:19Alfonso with a good header.
09:22A good run into space.
09:24An awkward ball.
09:25And instead of trusting to knock it in with his foot or his knee, he dives and heads it home for the critical goal for Spain.
09:32And Amor from Barcelona scored a lot of late goals in the season for Barcelona.
09:38And he came through here for Spain.
09:42His first goal in the European Championships.
09:46Including the finals and in qualifying.
09:49Alan Rowan trying to find out exactly what is happening at St. James' Park in Newcastle.
09:54Where France and Bulgaria are playing.
09:57Remembering France leading 1-0 at half time.
10:01And with Spain winning here.
10:04If the results stay like that.
10:07Here comes Spain.
10:08And denied a third goal by Brunet.
10:12A goal that will certainly have ensured a Spanish victory.
10:15But of course, they still have to rely on what is going on up on Tyneside.
10:22Look at this great turn by Alfonso.
10:24And he receives the ball.
10:25Look at this fantastic turn away from the defender.
10:28The covering defenders are late.
10:30It is a stoppage time.
10:32I don't know.
10:32Agony for the Spanish bench.
10:37They just want to hear that final whistle.
10:39I'm sure the final lines between Leeds and Newcastle are running hot.
10:49As that one just bounced away there from George Haji.
10:53Well, that may tell the whole story for George Haji of his championship.
10:58Just, it wasn't there for him.
11:00He wasn't the same man he was in World Cup 94.
11:03That wonderful left foot.
11:04We saw only occasional glimpses of the talent it can produce.
11:08And disappointing, certainly, for Romania to lose all three matches.
11:13There is the final whistle.
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