Romania do just enough to beat Faroe Islands

• Claudiu Keșerü's fourth goal for his country gives Romania victory
• Goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen denies the home team again and again in Ploiesti
• Joan Edmundsson comes closest to snatching a point for the visitors
• Romania remain top of Group F; Faroese unable to build on 1-0 win in Greece
• Next qualifiers: Northern Ireland v Romania, Faroe Islands v Greece (13 June)

Romania remain top of UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group F, Claudiu Keșerü's fourth goal for his country just about enough to see off the Faroe Islands in Ploiesti.

Keșerü tidied up from a rebound in the 21st minute to put Romania in front, but Anghel Iordanescu's side lost some of their sparkle after the break, the visitors threatening to follow up their sensational 1-0 victory at Greece last time out with another eye-catching result on their travels.

Home fans could have no complaints after 30 minutes, goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen the only thing that stood between the Faroes and oblivion. He made a superb early stop from Raul Rusescu's long shot, and fended away a Keșerü effort after Mihai Pintilii sent him through on goal. However, the 28-year-old was wrong-footed for Romania's opener: the defensive wall deflected Alexandru Maxim's free-kick onto the post and Keșerü was first to the loose ball.

The Faroese mustered just one shot in the first 45 minutes, yet had begun to summon sterner resistance by the interval. Nielsen kept their hopes up in the second half; on 65 minutes, he repelled another Maxim free-kick with his left hand, then fended away Adrian Popa's header from the rebound with his right.

Soon afterwards, Vlad Chiricheș had to rescue Romania, putting in a saving tackle to dispossess Joan Edmundsson as he bore down on Costel Pantilimon's goal. Keșerü hit the post on 78 minutes and Nielsen saved well again from Maxim, but Pantilimon then spared his team an ignominious draw as he got to a powerful Edmundsson attempt in added time.