The youth team of Romania dramatically defeated the similar team of Armenia, with the score of 1-0 (0-0), on Tuesday, in Yerevan, in a match of Group E of the preliminaries of the European Under-21 Football Championship 2025.
Daniel Pancu, Romania U21 coach. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
The only goal of the game was scored by Cristian Mihai (89), the midfielder of the UTA team, introduced in the 74th minute, scoring with a header, following a free kick executed by Constantin Grameni.
The team coached by Daniel Pancu played a modest game, against a stubborn, obstructionist opponent, the tricolors allowing themselves to be engaged in a tangled game, with few scoring opportunities.
Our team's first chance came in min. 8, but the goalkeeper Matinian defended the ball sent by Ignat. Louis Munteanu missed the opening score (12), hitting the crossbar.
In the first half, the Armenians also had a notable opportunity, but Matei Ilie blocked Kaloukian's shot (35).
After the break, Munteanu managed to send the ball into the net (49), but the Polish referee canceled the goal, for an alleged foul on Sargsian. Immediately, Munteanu squandered another chance, due to an uninspired exit of the goalkeeper Matinian, the Farulu striker passing to Ianis Stoica, who was offside, instead of a personal solution.
The hosts had another chance (54), but Manvelian shot over the goal from the box.
Munteanu was inaccurate on two occasions (65, 82), and Grameni (86) failed to beat the goalkeeper with a shot from the edge of the box.
Armenia remained in ten, Simonian receiving the second yellow card for the foul on Musi, and Romania scored the winning goal from the free kick executed by Grameni (89).
Ahead of Tuesday's other group games, Montenegro-Finland and Albania-Switzerland, Romania top the table with 13 points (6 games), followed by Switzerland, 11 p (5 d), Albania, 10 p (6 d), Finland , 7 p (5 d), Montenegro, 4 p (4 d), Armenia, 2 p (8 d).
The nine winners of the preliminary groups and the three best second-placed teams will qualify for the final tournament in Slovakia, while the rest of the second-placed teams in the groups will play play-offs for the three available places.
Romania's next match will take place on September 6, at home, against Montenegro.
Armenia – Romania 0-1 (0-0)
He scored: Cristian Mihai (89).
Yerevan, Armavir Stadium
2025 European Under-21 Championship Preliminaries – Group E
The teams evolved:
Armenia: 1. Gor Matinian – 22. Hariton Aivazian, 4. Erik Simonian, 5. Armen Sargsian (15. Narek Janoian, 74), 7. Karen Nalbandian, 14. Aventis Aventisian – 21. Serob Galstian (11. Narek Alaverdian, 70) , 19. Gor Manvelian, 8. Edgar Piloian, 10. Ghevorg Tarahcian (captain) – 23. Nicholas Kaloukian. Selector: Armen Ghiulbudaghiant.
Unused reserves: 12. Davit Davtian – 2. Petik Manukian, 9. Narek Hovhanisian, 13. Hamlet Sargsian, 17. Ruben Abrahamian, 18. Levon Vardanian, 20. Viaceslav Afian.
Romania: 1. Răzvan Sava – 17. Darius Oroian, 3. Cristian Ignat, 6. Matei Ilie, 13. Ştefan Ştefanovici – 10. Marius Corbu (7. Ianis Stoica, 46), 15. Cătălin Vulturar (21. Cristian Mihai, 74) , 8. Constantin Grameni – 11. Ştefan Baiaram (20. Alexandru Musi, 65), 9. Louis Munteanu (captain), 19. Rareş Ilie (14. Rareş Burnete, 81). Selector: Daniel Pancu.
Unused reserves: 12. Otto Hindrich – 4. Costin Amzăr, 5. Gabriel Danuleasă, 16. Luca Mihai, 18. David Maftei.
Referee: Damian Sylwesterzak; assistant referees: Bartosz Heinig, Adam Karasewicz; fourth official: Pawel Malec (all from Poland)
Yellow cards: Simonian (56, 87), Vulturar (63), Baiaram (64), Manvelian (64), Stoica (90+5).
Red card: Simonian (87).
