Quarter final14 March 

Romania easily defeat poor Italy  

Romania 2-0 Italy:  

It was a warm day with perfect conditions for football. 42,725 fans turned out at Romania’s Thugz Mansion expecting to see a good game as both sides attempted to make the semi-finals of the World Cup. 

Romania lined up in a 4-4-2 defensive. They took up a slightly defensive position on the pitch and made use of a direct playing style. Italy lined up in a 3-3-2-2. They started the game with a very balanced attitude and attempted to carry out a shortpassing style.  Romania were slight favourites to win but they didn’t allow the pressure to inhibit their performance. From the off they dominated this game and the first chance came their way after only 3 minutes. The danger man, P. Sfera, hit a superb free kick goalwards and was unlucky to see it fly just over. Italy responded with an equally good chance 7 minutes later. E. Bronzin expertly sent the ball through to L. Sorvillo who had made a clever run into the box. However, his shot was poorly struck and G. Fratila easily saved. Romania, though, drew first blood in the 17^th. minute. I. Pancu played a lovely ball into the box towards I. Costache who was completely unmarked. He hit a powerful shot to the net which J. Crescenzi inexplicably failed to. Stunned by the concession of the goal, Italy went out of the game completely and Romania started to control matters. They soon had a number of goal chances around the half-hour mark. In the 28^th. minute, the best one of these fell to P. Sfera. S. Georgescu rounded E. Bronzin on the wing and threw a cross into the box. P. Sfera powered a header towards the top corner from the penalty spot. Fortunately for Italy, J. Crescenzi bravely got across to make a spectacular save and keep it at 1-0. The last chance before half-time was for the Italians. Some good combination play in the middle of the park gave E. Bronzin possession at the edge of the penalty area. He fed L. Sorvillo with a neat pass who in turn sent in a deft lob in the hope of catching out the keeper. G. Fratila pulled out a fantastic save to retain his side’s lead at the break.The second half started quite slowly with no chance for either side until 9 minutes in. After 54 minutes, P.Sfera had a go from another free kick. To his disgust, it once again missed the target. Although Romania were the ones leading, they continued to put all the pressure on Italy. Romania were creating all the chances and S.Camataru had a glorious opportunity with 66 minutes gone. Intricate combination play resulted in his possession in front of the goal. It looked like he was going to score, but J. Crescenzi amazingly got down to keep out his effort.J. Crescenzi was keeping Italy in it but any hope they had was destroyed in the 83^rd. minute.  An appalling tackle from behind on I. Pancu led to L. Sorvillo’s second yellow and thus, a red card. Being down to 10 men Italy were all but beaten and with 3 minutes remaining Romania made sure of it. A sweet through ball from P. Sfera gave D. Moldovan a good opportunity. He hammered it home with a clean volley from distance for 2-0.With the result beyond doubt, the game petered out with Romania casually passing the ball around. After 4 minutes of injury time, the referee’s whistle signalled the end and Romania were in the semi-finals.