Romania ease past Croatia in their Euro U21 opener
Goals from Puscas from the penalty spot, Hagi, Baluta and Petre gave Romania a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Croatia in their Euro U21 group C match in San Marino. Vlasic netted for the Balkans.
In Group C's early kick-off, Romania enjoyed an emphatic start by hammering Croatia.
Following a lively opening, Romania took the lead in the 11th minute – George Puscas converting a penalty after Filip Benkovic was penalised for handball following a VAR review.
Puscas then pounced on a poor headed back-pass three minutes later, nodding past the goalkeeper and seeing his effort cleared off the line, only for Romania icon Gheorghe Hagi's son Ianis to subsequently slot home.
Nikola Vlasic pulled one back with a 25-yard strike shortly afterwards and almost got a swift second, forcing Ionut Radu into a fine save.
Romania capitalised on that let-off in the second half. Tudor Baluta intercepted a stray pass, glided past a defender and coolly found the net in the 66th minute before substitute Adrian Petre wrapped things up at the end, guiding home Cristian Manea's cross from close range.