Romania 1-1 Switzerland: EURO 2016 Group A Report

Switzerland top Group A at EURO 2016 and edged ever closer towards the knockout stages of the tournament, despite drawing 1-1 with Romania inside the Parc des Princes on Monday afternoon.

Admir Mehmedi’s unstoppable second-half strike cancelled out Bogdan Stancu’s opener (pen) for the Romanians, who sit third in the group following their opening loss to hosts France last Friday.

Despite the match starting with an array of empty seats inside the Paris venue, striker Haris Seferovic spurned two glorious opportunities within the opening 16 minutes to fire Switzerland ahead.

Switzerland’s Mehmedi in action – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

However the Eintracht Frankfurt ace firstly shot wide of the target from 18 yards out, before being threaded through on goal once more by Xherdan Shaqiri, only for Romania goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu to block his effort well with his feet.

Then; just before the 10-minute mark, referee Sergey Karasev had no hesitation in rewarding the Romanians a spot-kick after posing their first real threat on goal.

Right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner was adjudged to have brought down Alex Chipciu in the 18-yard area, gifting Stancu the opener from the penalty spot – his second spot-kick in his country’s two opening Group A fixtures.

But just moments after falling behind, the Swiss almost carved out the perfect response, but Fabian Schar’s thunderous long-range effort was matched by shot-stopper Tatarusanu.

Lively winger Chipciu; who created Romania’s opening goal, once again charged down the left-flank before cutting inside onto his right foot, but the forward’s shot didn’t have enough curl to beat Swiss ‘keeper Yann Sommer at his far post.

But after 28 minutes of play, the leading nation should have doubled their advantage. A left-sided free-kick fell kindly for defender Cristian Săpunaru 10 yards out, but he scuffed his golden opportunity against the post.

Switzerland did however threaten an equalising goal shortly before the interval, but Lichtsteiner’s lofted ball to the back post was nodded horribly wide, despite Blerim Džemaili being gifted a free header from close-range.

After the break, the trailing side started on the front foot and netted a crucial equaliser inside 12 minutes of the restart.

Stoke City forward Shaqiri has had a hand in nine goals in his last nine competitive appearances for Switzerland (four goals, five assists) – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

After Romania failed to fully clear a corner, the ball fell kindly into the path of an onrushing Mehmedi, who rifled it into the opposite corner to give a grounded Tatarusanu no chance and draw Switzerland level.

With the tie now evenly poised approaching the 70-minute milestone, second-half substitute Breel Embolo almost managed to head home Lichtsteiner’s delivery, before Romania’s Gabriel Torje troubled ‘keeper Sommer terrifically from 40-yards out with a vicious free-kick – with the goal attempt surprising everyone.

Then after the Romanian’s fluffed another attempted clearance from a long ball forward, the ball dropped kindly to Dzemaili, but the Galatasaray midfielder’s volley was slightly too high and wide of the goal frame.

The final ten minutes of play was dragged out, without neither side carving out any match winning opportunities, seeing Romania hang on for a share of the spoils, though the stalemate bodes better for Switzerland after going top of Group A ahead of France.

Man of the Match: Alex Chipciu (Romania)

The pacy winger instigated Romania’s opener and was arguably the game’s best player of the first-half after giving Swiss right-back Lichtsteiner the runaround inside 45 minutes in Paris.

The 27-year-old, who currently plays his club football in his native homeland with Steaua București, charged down the left-flank before being brought down by the Juventus full-back to win his side the penalty kick.

Despite being marginally at fault for Switzerland’s equaliser in the second-half after failing to keep with his man, Mehmedi, Chipciu was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself this afternoon, but his shot flew past the far post after cleverly cutting inside on his right foot.

Romania will need Chipciu at his creative and silky best again on Sunday, as his country will most likely need all three points to have any chance of progressing from the group stages.

What’s Next: Group A leaders Switzerland will be confident of qualifying for the knockout stages, despite having to play hosts France on Sunday, meanwhile Romania will be looking to record their first EURO 2016 victory on the same day against Albania.