Tue Jun 17 17:00:07 2008

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Dutch roll again to eliminate Romania

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Berne, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie each scored as the Netherlands completed a perfect run in the "Group of Death" on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Romania in the Euro 2008 finals.

The Dutch, who already secured the top spot in Group C, used nine new starters but continued their impressive tournament. The Netherlands beat Italy, 3-0, and France, 4-1, in its first two games.

The Netherlands (3-0-0) will play the Group D runner-up, Russia or Sweden, on Saturday in quarterfinals.

Romania entered the match with a chance to advance with a win or tie, but Italy defeated France, 2-0, to grab the final quarterfinal berth from the group.

Romania had its best scoring chance of the first half in the 24th minute when Adrian Mutu collected a long throw in deep inside the penalty area. With his back to the goal, he turned to his right and took a shot that was just slightly deflected off target by a Netherlands defender.

With Italy and France playing simultaneously in Zurich, Switzerland, Romania learned one minute later it needed a win. Andrea Pirlo converted a penalty kick for Italy to put the 2006 World Cup winners in position to advance.

Mutu had another chance in the 30th minute when he lost a defender outside the area but fired wide right.

The Netherlands started to threaten more offensively late in the opening half. Huntelaar fired high in the 33rd and Arjen Robben missed just wide in the 36th on two of best chances for the Dutch.

Mutu and Razvan Rat combined to set up Romania's final chance of the first half in the 44th minute, but Banel Nicolita fired high to waste the opportunity.

The Netherlands, which controlled the majority of the possession in the opening half, started to create more dangerous chances early in the second half.

Robin van Persie had the first scoring chance after half when he settled a long pass inside the area and turned to loose a defender. But his shot at the right post pushed wide after a diving effort by Romania goalie Bogdan Lobont.

Five minutes later in the 54th minute, Huntelaar put the Netherlands in front. Ibrahim Affelay's cross slipped by teammate Orlando Engelaar, who drew a few defenders, and it just took a slight touch from inside the six-yard box for Huntelaar to score his eighth goal in 13 international games.

The Netherlands continued to dominate possession after taking the lead and just cruised to the final whistle.

Van Persie put the victory away in the 87th minute on a brilliant finish. Demy de Zeeuw delivered a pass into the area that Van Persie chested down, played to himself with right foot and then hammered inside the near post with his left. Van Persie's goal was his second of the finals.