Young Oranje continued their winning streak by defeating Young Romania 2-0 in Bucharest during a friendly match on March 25, 2025. The victory came courtesy of two brilliant goals in the second half from Groningen players Luciano Valente and Thom van Bergen.
The match, held at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, showcased a remarkable goal by Valente, who scored in the 51st minute with a stunning shot from outside the penalty area that rocketed into the crossbar, giving the team the lead. Van Bergen followed up just eight minutes later with a well-placed header, sealing the match.
Under the guidance of coach Michael Reiziger, Young Oranje is in preparations for the European Championship, set to take place this summer in Slovakia. The team qualified for the tournament unbeaten, and will face tough competitors in the group stage, including Finland, Denmark, and Ukraine. Romania's team also secured a spot in the tournament.
This victory comes after a previous friendly match where Young Oranje edged out Young Italy with a score of 2-1, despite the team having only nine players on the field for part of the game due to two red cards. Key players Ezechiel Banzuzi and Lamare Bogarde were unavailable for this encounter against Romania. Reiziger made ten changes to his lineup for the match against Romania compared to the previous game against Italy, with only Tyrese Asante retaining his starting position.
Lucas Jetten, a promising young talent, made his debut during the match in Romania.
Valente's performance in the game against Romania marked his first official goal for Young Oranje, reflecting a rapid progression since making his debut just days earlier as a substitute against Young Italy. Delighted with his performance, Valente stated, "It's a dream to represent Young Oranje alongside Thom; we both play for FC Groningen, and to score together is just incredible!"
Van Bergen, also pleased with the outcome, commented, "We wanted to make the most of our time on the pitch together, and scoring two goals was a fantastic result for us both." He praised Valente's goal, admiring its quality and emphasizing that his teammate deserved all the credit.
As the European Championship approaches, Young Oranje has a lot to be optimistic about, having demonstrated their ability and talent in these warm-up games. They are determined to continue the momentum headed into the tournament.
With the first match scheduled for June 12 against Finland, the Dutch side looks forward to an exciting summer ahead as they compete among Europe’s best.
