* ALL great goalscorers have a superb sense of timing, and Romania's
Ilie Dumitrescu chose the perfect moment to prove that again and help
send Argentina crashing out of the World Cup.
After three largely indifferent games in the first round, Romania
desperately needed Dumitrescu to bounce back to form against Argentina
in their second-round match in Los Angeles last night.
And that is exactly what he did as the Romanians won 3-2 to reach the
quarter-finals for the first time.
Dumitrescu scored their first direct from a free-kick after 11 minutes
and added the second seven minutes later when he ran onto a through ball
from skipper Gheorghe Hagi and left Argentina's goalkeeper Luis Islas
helpless.
He also set up Hagi for Romania's third in the second half and his
overall performance was just what was needed in the absence of the
suspended Florin Raducioiu -- scorer of two goals in the first round and
a key figure in attack.
Although Hagi was officially named man of the match, Dumitrescu's
influence on the outcome was crucial.
0 ''I did make a slow start to the Cup, it's true,'' said the Steaua
Bucharest forward afterwards, ''but my team-mates have shown a lot of
confidence in me and we gave it everything we had.
''This is a unique moment, and one to savour. We have never reached
the last eight before and I'm delighted the two goals I scored will get
me a place in our soccer history.''
Hagi said: ''We proved we are not a team of individuals but a good
team overall, and Ilie was the star.''
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