Romania edge ahead again

By Paul-Daniel Zaharia

Romania reclaimed first place in UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 1 as two second-half goals saw off Armenia in the first competitive international held in the Black Sea resort of Navodari.

One-point lead
The Czech Republic and the Netherlands both won last night to move ahead of Romania, but they are now back in front by a single point, albeit with only two games left compared to the Czechs' four and the Netherlands' three.

Bete beaten
Having dominated from the off, Romania finally found a way past Armenia's impressive 18-year-old goalkeeper Edel Bete - who had kept clean sheets against the Dutch and F.Y.R. Macedonia in his previous appearances in the competition - when Razvan Cocis turned in a cross from substitute Hristu Chiacu four minutes into the second half. Another replacement, Costin Curelea, confirmed victory 12 minutes from time with an effort from distance to banish memories of Friday's 2-0 defeat in the Netherlands.

Czech encounter
A home fixture with the Czech Republic on 2 September, their next match, looks pivotal to Romanian hopes of claiming one of the two play-off places, and should they prevail in that game and in Finland on 7 October they will indeed earn a two-legged encounter in November for a berth in next year's finals.

Goalless run
Armenia remain fifth, and will doubtless have Romanian support on 2 September when they welcome the Dutch and aim to end a run of five group matches without a goal, although they did draw 0-0 in the Netherlands in March.