Football: National team draws against Montenegro in UEFA Nations League. Romania’s U21 team wins away in Portugal

The national team of Romania ended in a draw, 0-0, the match on Friday against the representative of Montenegro played in Ploiesti (60 km north of Bucharest) in Group 4 of the UEFA Nations League. The match was played with no spectators.

It was the third match in the past two years in which Romania fails to defeat Montenegro, after 1-1 at home and 0-1 away in the 2018 World Cup qualifications.

Vlad Chiriches and Mihai Pintilii are injured and cannot play the next match for the national team. Moreover, Chiriches is to undergo a knee operation.

In the other match in Group 4, Lithuania vs. Serbia 0-1.

Teams:

România: 12. Ciprian Tătăruşanu – 2. Romario Benzar, 6. Vlad Chiricheş (captain) (5. Mihai Bălaşa, 31^st minute), 22. Cristian Săpunaru, 11. Nicuşor Bancu – 8. Mihai Pintilii (15. Paul Anton, 73^rd minute), 23. Nicolae Stanciu – 7. Alexandru Chipciu, 10. Alexandru Maxim, 20. Alexandru Mitriţă (14. Constantin Budescu, 68^th minute)- 13. Claudiu Keşeru. Coach: Cosmin Contra.

Montenegro: 1. Danijel Petkovic – 2. Filip Stojkovic, 15. Stefan Savic (captain), 22. Marko Simic, 6. Zarko Tomasevic – 19. Aleksandar Scekic (7. Nebojsa Kosovic, 74^th minute), 4. Nikola Vukcevic – 3. Aleksandar Boljevic (11. Fatos Beciraj, 81^st minute), 20. Mirko Ivanic, 16. Vladimir Jovovic – 9. Stefan Mugosa. Coach: Ljubisa Tumbakovic.

U21 team – huge victory in Portugal

Romania’s U21 national team won on Friday in Portugal in a match counting for Euro 2019 Italy qualifying round. Romania won 2-1 by the goals scored by Cicâldău (52^nd minute) and Ivan (59^th minute), for Portugal scored Carvalho (84^th minute).

Romania played in 9 players and the match went into extra time for 9 minutes.

Romanian goalkeeper Ionut Radu defended a penalty kick in the 90+9^th minute.

Romania is now second in the group with 15 points. Bosnia ranks first, with an extra match played. The direct match between Romania and Bosnia will be played by the U21 team at home. Romania is the only undefeated team in Group 8 of the Euro 2019 qualifying round.