Romania beat Faroe Islands to reach finals

• Romania qualify for UEFA EURO 2016 with a comfortable win in Torshavn
• Constantin Budescu scores twice for Anghel Iordanescu's side as they secure second place in Group F
• Alexandru Maxim grabs late third goal for Romania to put the result beyond doubt
• Faroe Islands finish second bottom ahead of Greece
  

Two goals by Constantin Budescu sent Romania on their way to a routine victory against the Faroe Islands which confirmed their qualification for UEFA EURO 2016.

It will be the fifth time Romania have been represented at the tournament, but Anghel Iordanescu's side had to settle for second spot in Group F following Northern Ireland’s 1-1 draw in Finland.

Having already conceded14 goals during qualifying before kick-off, the Faroe Islands' clean sheet lasted just four minutes. Gabriel Torje played a smart free-kick to Răzvan Raţ, galloping down the left flank, and the veteran cut the ball back to the marauding Budescu on the edge of the area, who placed it into Gunnar Nielsen's bottom-left corner with aplomb.

Alexandru Maxim got the third©Getty Images

Lars Olsen's side refused to be overawed, however, and Romania goalkeeper Ciprian Tătăruşanu had to make a succession of saves to deny the home team an equaliser. Indeed, they were looking increasingly fortunate to be ahead as Ragnar Nattestad fired wide from two metres out.

The visitors' response was as pivotal as it was fortuitous. Adrian Popa, picking up a loose ball, teed up Budescu on the right wing to cross with seconds of the opening 45 minutes to spare. The opening goalscorer, presumably searching for the head of Bogdan Stancu in the box, inadvertently dumfounded Nielsen, looping the ball over the goalkeeper's head and into the net.

Despite the best efforts of their stubborn hosts, Alexandru Maxim put the result beyond doubt in the 83rd minute. Playing a perfectly timed one-two with Stancu, he slid the ball into the net to start the celebrations back in Romania.