Romania labour to 1-0 win over Faroe Islands
ByReuters
Updated 29/03/2015 at 21:28 GMT
Romania continued their impressive run but were well short of their scintillating best as a Claudiu Keseru goal earned them a laboured 1-0 victory over Group F underdogs Faroe Islands in their Euro 2016 qualifier in Ploiesti on Sunday.
Romania's Claudiu Keseru.
Image credit: Eurosport
The victory ensured Anghel Iordanescu's men top their table with 13 points from five matches, one clear of Northern Ireland, who beat Finland 2-1 on Sunday.
Faroe Islands keeper Gunnar Nielsen was beaten in the 21st minute when Alexandru Maxim's deflected free-kick hit the post and Keseru reacted quickly to slam home the rebound -- his fourth goal in as many internationals.
Nielsen produced a couple of good saves after the break as his team mates defended doggedly to stay in the game.
Maxim came closest to scoring a second in front of Romania's vociferous fans at the Ilie Oana stadium nine minutes from time and Keseru sent a curling free kick just wide of the post.
Against the run of play, the visitors almost snatched a dramatic equaliser when keeper Costel Pantilimon made a brilliant save to deny Joan Edmundsson in added time.
Faroe Islands, who beat Greece 1-0 in Athens in November after 34 successive competitive matches without a win, were forced to cope without some of their key players.
Captain Frodi Benjaminsen was not included in the squad after starting a new job as a prison guard earlier this week, fellow midfielder Hallur Hansson was suspended and defender Jonas Tor Naes was out with a shoulder injury.
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