Romania 2-1 Greece
BUCHAREST, June 3 (Reuters) - Romania, resting captain
Gheorghe Hagi, struggled to an unconvincing 2-1 victory over
Greece in their final Euro 2000 warm-up match on Saturday.
Romania coach Emeric Ienei said the 35-year-old Hagi did not
play because of his 'advanced stage of tiredness'.
Romanian defender Liviu Ciobotariu of Standard Liege opened
the scoring in the eighth minute after Iulian Filipescu headed a
corner back across goal.
Stuttgart striker Ionel Ganea hit the crossbar later in the
first half but substitute Florentin Petre, the shortest player
on the pitch, was on target when he headed the second goal 10
minutes from time.
Nikos Limperopoulos pulled one back for Greece five minutes
later after the Romanian defence gifted the ball to forward just
inside the area.
Romania fielded three strikers but without Hagi to supply
the passes they rarely looked dangerous.
'Hagi is a key player,' said Ienei. 'Romania has good players
to replace him but nobody can play as he does. I'm satisfied
with the good play of our atack but the defence was poor.'
