Football: Romania 2 Finland 0 in friendly match. Goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont has retired

The national football team of Romania defeated Finland 2-0 (1-0) on Tuesday, in a match played in Ploiesti, on Ilie Oana stadium, which also marked the retirement of national team goalkeeper, Bogdan Lobont, now 40 years old (photo).

The goals were scored by Cristian Manea (37^th min) and Ciprian Deac (61^st min).

The last latch played by Lobont with the national team was in 2013. On Tuesday, he symbolically replaced goalkeeper Tatarusanu in the 87^th minute to register his 86^th selection.

It was the fourth friendly match played this year by Romania (2-1 against Israel away, 1-0 against Sweden in Craiova, 3-2 against Chile in Austria).

Romania’s next match will be played in the League of Nations against Montenegro, on September 7.

Attendance: 12,000.

Coach Cosmin Contra: Romania stands real chances to qualify to EURO 2020

The national team coach, Cosmin Contra, said Romania stands real chances to qualify to EURO 2020, if it continues on this path.

“I am a happy coach. After the match against Chile, I said I was dissatisfied with many issued during the match, given that the adversary was playing in 10 men. Today I believe we played a good game. It is a well deserved win and I am glad we are on an upward trend in terms of results and game. I told the boys, if we play like this at the beginning of the League of Nations, we have real chances to face the teams in the group,” Contra said.

He dedicated the victory to Bogdan Lobont, who has retired.

He received messages from former players and coaches such as Victor Piţurcă, Cosmin Contra, Florentin Petre, Adrian Mutu, Gabi Stan, Daniel Pancu, Eusebio Di Francesco, Daniele De Rossi, Francesco Totti, etc.

In the stands a banner was reading ’21 years for the national flag, thank you, Bogdan Lobont, our guarding angel’.

Lobont started his career with Corvinul Hunedoara and played for rapid Bucharest (1997-2000), Ajax Amsterdam (2000-2006), Dinamo Bucharest (2001-2002, 2007-2009), Fiorentina (2006-2007) and AS Roma (2009-2018).

file photo