Hosts Romania have secured a slot at Rome 2019 following wins over Belarus and Georgia.

After match day 2 at the IBSA Blind Football European Championships Division 2 in Bucharest, the hosts sit top of the group on maximum points after defeating Belarus 3-0 in their opening match and overcoming Georgia 2-1 in a close-fought match yesterday morning.

Florin Kovacs was the star player for the home team in the fixture against Georgia, scoring both goals. Margvelashvili was on target to equalise for the Georgians after Romania’s opening goal, but soon after Kovacs shot hard into the top right-hand corner to give the hosts the win.   

Caption: Romania celebrates victory over Georgia. 

As a result, Romania will head to Italy to take part in the IBSA Blind Football European Championships Division 1 in Rome, Italy, in September.

In yesterday’s second match, Greece No 10 Zacharos struck twice as Greece defeated Belarus 2-0. The win puts Greece on four points and in second place.

Caption: action shot from the Greece vs Belarus game. Greece takes a corner as the Belarus players move in to defend.

As the players rest today, there is still everything to play for on the final day tomorrow. Georgia faces Belarus at 10:00 local time, knowing that only a big win will give them a chance of taking the second qualification slot for Rome 2019 on goal difference.

Romania and Greece play the final match at 15:30 local time, with a draw enough to see Greece secure a place at the Europeans, while the hosts will be looking to win the championships on maximum points.

The IBSA Blind Football European Championships Division 2 are taking place at the Romanian Football Federation training centre in Buftea, near Bucharest. The competition is hosted by the Romanian Paralympic Committee in partnership with the Romanian Football Federation and the Romanian Association of the Blind.

Caption: standings after match day 2.

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