Sports Roundup

The latest from football, women's and men's handball and rugby

Florin Orban, 29.03.2021, 13:45

Romania’s national football team on the National Arena
in Bucharest sustained a nil-1 defeat by Germany Sunday night, in a Group J fixture counting towards World Cup 2022 preliminaries. The guest team had the
upper hand throughout the game in every possible respect. Romania’s defeat
could have been even harsher, had it not been for goalie Florin Nita who was in
top shape for the day. On Wednesday Romania travels to Armenia for another
fixture in the group. We recall Armenia is the runner-up team in Group J, having
grabbed a 2-nil home win against Iceland.

In other news from football, Romania’s Under-21 team
this coming Tuesday takes on Germany in Budapest. The match will definitely
decide if Romania can secure a place among the first eight teams competing in the
European U-21 Championship. Romania’s Group A trail so far includes a 1-all
draw in the match against the Netherlands and a 2-1 win against Hungary. If
they want to make headway into the competition, Romania needs to be at the top
of the table or at least 2nd placed in its group.

In news from rugby, this past Sunday in Tbilisi,
Romania sustained a 17-28 defeat by Georgia, in a fixture counting towards the
fourth round of Rugby Europe Championship 2021. Georgia had the upper hand for
the game, even though they were one man shy on the pitch. Even so, the
Romanians were unable to grab the defensive bonus point. With 18 points in 4 matches,
Georgia is at the top of the table. Romania is the runner-up team, with 9
points in 4 matches.

In news from women’s handball, Minaur Baia Mare took a
giant leap towards the semifinals of the EHF European League, having
defeated Dunarea Braila, 31-24, away from home, in the first leg of the
quarterfinals’ tie. The second leg is scheduled in Baia Mare on April 3rd.

In men’s handball, in the EHF European Cup, Minaur
Baia Mare wasted the opportunity to go through to the semifinals, having sustained
a defeat in the tie against Cypriot challengers Anorthosis Famagusta, 22 to 27
in Baia Mare and on aggregate, despite Minaur’s
23-18 win in the return leg they played in Nicosia.