Romania - Faroe Islands 1-0 (1-0)
1-0 Claudiu Keseru
Romania beat the Faroe Islands 1-0 with a deflected free kick.
Saying that it was only a deflected free kick that separated Romania and the Faroe Islands might be stretching it as Romania was the more dominant team and created other clear-cut scoring opportunities which goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen annulled with some world class saves, but on the score-sheet, there was just a single goal separating the sides though.
After a shaky opening where Nielsen denied a clear Claudiu Keseru from taking the lead as he had been played clear, the Faroese team seemed to have weathered the early storm and started moving forward, and Brandur Olsen tried his luck with a free kick from an ideal position, but curled his attempted low shot wide.
Popa then had a close effort for Romania that went across the face of goal before the hosts took the lead after 20 minutes where a free kick took a wicked deflection off the wall and then rebounded off the post for Keseru to slot home after 20 minutes.
Romania rarely threatened during the rest of the half and were quite tame for the whole of the second half too.
However, they so nearly doubled their lead from another free kick after 64 minutes, but only an incredible double-save from Nielsen denied Romania their second before the goalkeeper collect the ball on the line.
Shortly after, Jóan Símun Edmundsson nearly escaped the Romanian defence but was caught back just as he was about to enter the penalty area.
Keseru went close again for Rumenia in the 78th minute as he turned to fire the ball on the outside of the post and out from an acute angle.
On 80 minutes a Romanian was played clear on goal, but yet again Nielsen made an outstanding block as he advanced from his goal. – They must be biting their head of in shame at relegation-bound Motherwell for not giving him the chance to save them.
And then, as the clock had elapsed 90 minutes, the Faroes so nearly snatched a draw with a thunderous shot from Edmundsson destined to go into the top corner, but just to see it blocked around the woodwork by goalkeeper Pantilimon.