The national team of Romania made 2-2 with Slovakia, equalling in the end of the match with a lot of chance. First opportunity of the match had Adrian Ilie, who shot from the border of penalty area, but the goalkeeper of Zenit Sankt-Peterburg, Kamil Contofalsky, saved the ball. In 12 minute, the striker of 1. FC Nürnberg, Róbert Vittek, scored with the head, after a mistake of Stelea. After Mirel Radoi rejected a dangerous attack of Slovakians, in 33 minute Pancu shot powerful from 20 metres, but the ball passed near by the bar of Contofalsky. In 38 minute, Adi Ilie was faulted in the penalty area and Pancu transformed the penalty-kick. It was 44 minute, 1-1, and it seemed that the teams will end the first part of the match with 1-1, but Romanian goalkeeper made another huge mistake, slipping the ball into net, after a shot of Miroslav Karhan... Romania began second part better, with the wish to score at least one more goal. Ilie entered in penalty are in 50 minute, passed to Pancu, but the midfielder of Besiktas shot elsewhere. In 60 minute Daniel Niculae received the ball in Slovakian penalty area, but his shot from the small box was rejected into corner by Contofalsky. One minute later, Radoi had a spectacular action, sent the ball to Plesan, but he was faulted at 30 metres. Mitea shot powerful from free-kick, but the ball passed a little over the post. Gigel Bucur could score in 85 minute, after a pass from Mitea, but he didn't reach to the ball... In extra time, when Romanian team still hoped to score again, Tiberiu Balan has crossed from right side and Daniel Oprita headed from 6 metres and established the final score, 2-2.

The Netherlands moved a point clear at the top of Group 1 with an excellent away performance in Bucharest, although victory was marred by injury to Arjen Robben. The visitors' goals summed up the blend of experience and youth that Dutch coach Marco van Basten hopes will take his side all the way to Germany next year. Veteran midfield player Phillip Cocu scored the first after 38 seconds before a late goal from 18-year-old Ryan Babel, the AFC Ajax starlet making his debut as a replacement for Robben, wrapped things up. Flying winger Robben was named in the starting eleven after getting 17 minutes for Chelsea FC in an English Premiership match last Saturday, his first appearance since fracturing a bone in his foot on 2 February. However, he lasted just 22 minutes tonight before leaving the pitch with a calf injury that Van Basten said afterwards "looks serious". By then, the Netherlands were in front and in full control. PSV Eindhoven captain Cocu scored with a header from a first-minute corner and the only surprise was that the visitors did not add to their tally against an ambitious Romanian side whose best chance of the half fell to Daniel Pancu, only for Edwin van der Saar to save. Ruud van Nistelrooij nearly scored a second for the Dutch just after the half-hour mark but Romania hung on until half-time. Roared on by terrific home support, they were a different proposition after the break and could have equalised on 55 minutes when Adrian Ilie hit the crossbar with a header. However, the Dutch also had their moments, particularly through Dirk Kuijt and Van Nistelrooij, but both times Bogdan Lobont was in the way. Babel finally made it two five minutes from time with a low shot after a brilliant counterattacking move. The Dutch move on to 13 points, one ahead of the Czech Republic, who were 4-3 winners against Finland, and three ahead of tonight's opponents. Romania go to FYR Macedonia on Wednesday knowing victory is vital to stay in touch with the Dutch and Czechs, who are in action the same night against Armenia and Andorra respectively.

Romania remained in contention in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1 as two Nicolae Mitea goals ensured Slobodan Santrac's reign as coach of FYR Macedonia began with a defeat. The result moved the visitors up to 13 points from seven games, three points behind the Netherlands and two adrift of the Czech Republic, although Victor Piţurcă's side have played a game more than both sides. FYR Macedonia, meanwhile, stayed fifth with five points. At Skopje's Gradski stadium, Santrac lost influential striker Goran Pandev to a knee ligament injury sustained in the warm-up, but nevertheless the home side began brightly and carved out the first chance of the night in the 16th minute. Velice Sumulikoski's pass found Goran Maznov in space but, although Goran Jancevski was in support, Maznov opted to shoot and the Romanian defence was able to scramble the ball away for a corner. Two minutes later the visitors were in front as Goce Sedloski's slip left Mitea unmarked in front of goal, and the AFC Ajax midfield player gave goalkeeper Petar Milosveski no chance. FYR Macedonia tried to rally and might have levelled seven minutes later as Jancevski's pass gave Vlatko Grozdanovski a shooting chance, but his shot from the edge of the area flew wide. A minute past the half-hour, however, the home team did find an equaliser, as the Romanian defence failed to deal with Mile Krstev's attempted pass to Maznov, who was left alone in front of Bogdan Lobonţ's goal to make it 1-1. It might have been even better for Santrac's side as Jancevski carved out another opportunity, this time for Krstev, but again the effort was wayward. Romania regained the lead 13 minutes into the second half thanks to Mitea's second goal of the game. The midfield player skipped past Robert Popov and rifled his shot into the corner of the net for the decisive goal. The final margin might have been even greater as Gheorghe Bucur found Florentin Petre unmarked in front of goal ten minutes from time, but Milosevski reacted smartly to block his point-blank effort. Romania had already done enough to take the three points, however, and continue their bid to reach next year's finals on 4 June in the Netherlands. FYR Macedonia, meanwhile, are next in action in Armenia the same day.

Goals early in each half from Claudiu Niculescu and Nicolae Dică gave Romania a friendly international victory against Moldova in Bacău. With FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Netherlands and Armenia looming in June, Romania coach Victor Piţurcă fielded only two foreign-based players although a number of regulars, including Bogdan Lobonţ, Cosmin Contra, Sorin Ghionea and Dorinel Munteanu, all started. The hosts took control from the first whistle and opened the scoring in the eighth minute as Dinamo Bucurestş's Niculescu raced 45 metres down the right wing before finding the corner of the net with a powerful drive. The win was secured 13 minutes after half-time when substitute Dică doubled the advantage with a pinpoint shot from 16 metres. The Romanians could have gone further ahead, but Răzvan Cociş twice and Mihăiţă Pleşan once failed to convert presentable opportunities, while Moldova striker Viorel Frunză almost got a consolation for the visitors. Romania are third in World Cup qualifying Group 1 on 13 points, three behind leaders the Netherlands having played a game more. They visit the Dutch on 4 June before welcoming Armenia four days later. Moldova lie bottom of Group 5 and play the side directly above them, Scotland, on 4 June.

The Netherlands kept their position at the top of FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1 with a convincing victory against third-placed Romania. Chelsea FC forward Arjen Robben broke the deadlock with 26 minutes on the clock, and Dirk Kuijt added the second for the hosts in Rotterdam in the first minute of the second half to keep the Dutch a point ahead of the Czech Republic, who defeated Andorra 8-1 today and are now five points above Romania. Romania's Claudiu Niculescu was the first to threaten, and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar had to be alert to parry his effort to safety. The Netherlands came desperately close moments later when Kuijt's header following a Mark van Bommel corner was tipped over by goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ. Adrian Mutu, returning to the national team fold after his drugs suspension, looked somewhat rusty in attack for Romania, whereas the home team seemed sharp going forward. And they duly took the lead when Robben converted from five metres after a superb cross from Kuijt. The hosts struck again 60 seconds after the break, when Robben swung in a free-kick from the right, and Kuijt scored with a powerful header from close range. They could have added to their lead but substitute Robin van Persie drilled a shot just wide of the mark after a sweeping move involving Robben and Rafael van der Vaart. Moments later Van der Vaart received a booking that means he will be suspended for Wednesday's visit to Finland. Romania came close to reducing the deficit with a rare opportunity, but Van der Sar was equal to Cosmin Contra's header. Marco van Basten's side then cruised to the final whistle, ensuring the coach completed his tenth unbeaten match since his appointment, a better start than any of his predecessors. Romania will attempt to resurrect their campaign at home to Armenia in four days' time.

Gheorghe Bucur scored twice to help Romania defeat FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1 rivals Armenia in Constanţa. The Sportul Studentesc forward scored a goal in the latter stages of each half to add to Ovidiu Petre's 29th-minute opener, but Romania are still five points off a play-off place having played a game more than runaway duo the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Romania's 2-0 defeat against the Dutch at the weekend caused coach Victor Piţurcă to shuffle his pack, retaining only five players from that game in his starting lineup. The visitors' defensive strategy was clear from the outset, with Edgar Manucharian providing their only real presence up front. Unsurprisingly therefore, Romania were soon dominating possession and went ahead just before the half-hour mark. Gigel Coman was the architect, creating space down the left flank before delivering a superb cross that Petre headed in from five metres. The game was effectively over eleven minutes later when Mihăiţă Pleşan lofted a long ball to Dorinel Munteanu, who in turn nodded into the path of Bucur. The striker, starting in place of Adrian Mutu, made no mistake as he fired past Roman Berezovski. Bucur added his second ten minutes from time in a poor second period to add a touch of gloss to the scoreline, although Piţurcă will have been pleased to see his team keep a clean sheet for the first time in 18 months. If Romania are to keep alive their slender hopes of qualification, they must win their next fixture at home against Andorra next month before tackling the Czechs at home on 3 September. Sixth-placed Armenia face the Netherlands on the same day.

Adrian Mutu scored two first-half goals as Romania overcame a defensively-minded Andorra team 2-0 in Constanţa in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1, keeping up the pressure on pool leaders the Netherlands. Romanian playing legend Gheorghe Hagi attended the game in his home town of Constanţa to watch 37-year-old defender Dorinel Munteanu equal his all-time record of 125 international appearances. But the action on the pitch proved rather tame. The Pyrenean visitors put the emphasis firmly on defence from the off, failing to get a single shot on target in the first half. Romania dominated throughout, but the sheer weight of numbers in the Andorran box made their life tricky. After having a goal disallowed, Mutu finally got on the scoresheet with a fine header on 28 minutes. He doubled his tally five minutes before the break with a splendid 20-metre shot that arrowed into the top-left corner, the 1.000th goal in the history of the Romanian national team. The second half saw more physical, defensive play from Andorra, limiting the increasingly frustrated home team to just a handful of clear goalscoring opportunities. Romania consolidate third place in the group, moving to within two points of the Czech Republic and three of the Netherlands. However, the top two both have two games in hand.

Adrian Mutu scored twice for the second international running to take Romania above their FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 1 rivals into second place and keep alive their hopes of being in Germany next summer. A very young Romanian team produced a committed display and deserved their lead at the break, given to them by an acrobatic Mutu volley from a left-wing cross on 27 minutes. The goal coming after a frantic period of play when Jan Koller headed wide for the Czechs and the home side twice went close through a Nicolae Mitea long range effort and Ionuţ Mazilu, who failed to convert from just six metres. Bogdan Lobonţ was in inspired form for Romania and the visitors were denied by the goalkeeper eight minutes before the break from a Jan Polák effort which seemed destined for the top corner. Just two minutes into the second half Lobont blocked from Milan Baroš and on the hour he was there again to prevent Koller from scoring after the giant striker met a Zdenek Grygera cross from the left. A very open second half also saw Vladimír Šmicer and Koller again fail to convert chances as the Czechs piled on the pressure in a vain attempt to get back into the match. Romania were happy to play on the counterattack and got a second just short of the hour when Dorinel Munteanu, on his national record 126th appearance, played a long ball which Răzvan Cociş steered into the path of Mutu to convert from close range and repeat his two-goal feat of August against Andorra. The win lifted the Romanians into second place in Group 1, three points behind the Netherlands, but with only one game remaining, away to Finland next month. The Czech Republic meanwhile still have three games to play and can leapfrog back into second on Wednesday when they welcome Armenia.

An Adrian Mutu penalty proved decisive as Romania collected three valuable points against Finland in their final Group 1 match to keep alive their hopes of a FIFA World Cup play-off place. The visitors began brightly with forward Ionuţ Mazilu's header superbly kept out by Jussi Jääskeläinen after eleven minutes. Romania continued to control the game but failed to make further inroads into the Finnish defence until the 41st minute when Jääskeläinen was adjudged to have brought down Mazilu in the penalty area. Juventus forward Mutu successfully converted the spot-kick, finding the bottom right corner of the net. Răzvan Cociş could have made it two on the hour but his effort hit the post, before Finland began to find their feet with their best chances falling to Teemu Tainio. The Tottenham Hotspur midfield player shot wide on 84 minutes from Pekka Lagerblom's delivery, before striking the crossbar in the final minute from ten metres with Romanian goalkeeper Bogdan Lobonţ stranded. "Romania were clearly the better side in the first half, but we improved towards the end of the game" - said Finland coach Jyrki Heliskoski. "The result is obviously a disappointment, though." The win moves Victor Piţurcă's Romania up to second in the table, and a point ahead of the Czech Republic, who lost to the Netherlands. However, victory for the Czechs against Finland in their final qualification match on Wednesday will see them regain second place and end Romania's World Cup dream.

After a first half when Romania was close to the goal, by Mutu (30 and 32 minutes), and Ivory Coast by Drogba (34 and 38 minutes), the Africans opened the score in 48 minute, striker Aruna Kone defeating keeper Lobonţ with a shot from 16 matres. After just 4 minutes the score was 1-1, Iencsi heading from 7-8 metres after a cross of Dorinel Munteanu. The victory goal was scored in 90+1 minute by Bakari Kone, who profited by a big mistake of Neşu.

it's a real insanity with Romania - Nigeria match which should dispute today at Bucharest. Why? Because the chief of Nigerian delegation, David Suleiman, said today on the "Henri Coandă" airport that the friendly will dispute at 19:00, not at 16:00, how it was scheduled initially. Together with Suleiman have arrived at Bucharest 7 players, the rest of them following to arrive at 15:00. Nigerian FA has asked that this meeting to be postponed with three hours. The spokesman of Romanian FA, Paul Zaharia, said that he knows that the match will play at 16:00, but in this moment he doesn't have an official point of view. With 3 hours before the match Nigeria has gathered just 10 players: 7 players from Nigeria and 3 players already arrived from Europe: Sani Kaita (Sparta Rotterdam - Holland), Paul Obiefule (Viborg - Denmark) and Sodje (Brentford - third league - England). Four more players are expected to arrive in Romania at 15:00, but isn't sure if they can arrive at the stadium in one hour... The national channel TVR has announced that the match will be broadcast live at 17:00 (!?!). In Romanian squad, our stars Mutu and Chivu will not play this match, both having minor injuries but said that are afraid to risk to injury more. Coach Piturcă called immediatelly Florentin Petre from Dinamo in the place of Mutu. Now we will see if this match will dispute anymore... The Nigerian players has gone to the stadium at 16:15 and it seems that the match will dispute at 17:00 (CET). From Intercontinental Hotel 11 players went to Ghencea stadium (including Abiodun, player of FC Naţional Bucureşti), the 12th player following to come at the stadium directly from airport.