Romania 0-1 Sweden: Gyökeres extends record run as Sweden keep first clean sheet under Potter

Viktor Gyökeres scored for the seventh Nations League match in a row as Sweden beat Romania 1-0 at Arena Națională in Bucharest on Monday, keeping their first clean sheet under Graham Potter and leaving Gheorghe Hagi's side without a point after four games in Group B4.

Gyökeres turned in the rebound after Sebastian Nanasi hit the post in the 13th minute. It was his 25th goal for Sweden, taking him past Marcus Berg on the all-time list, and his fourth in four games this window. Sweden had conceded in each of their previous 18 matches.

Match facts

• Result: Romania 0-1 Sweden (half-time 0-1)
• Competition: UEFA Nations League B, Group 4, Matchday 4
• Venue: Arena Națională, Bucharest
• Scorers: Romania - None; Sweden - Gyökeres 13'
• Red cards: None
• Attendance: 49,426
• Next: Romania v Poland, Saturday 14 November; Sweden v Bosnia and Herzegovina

How the match unfolded

After an even start, Sweden scored with their first clear opening. Lucas Bergvall won the ball in Romania's half after Nicolae Stanciu lost possession. Alexander Bernhardsson crossed from the right, Nanasi's shot came back off the post, and Gyökeres tapped into an empty net.

Romania almost replied at once when goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and Eric Smith got in a mix-up over Andrei Rațiu's cross and the ball ran just wide. Sweden then had the better chances. Bernhardsson missed from a tight angle in the 25th minute, Victor Lindelöf headed over from close range from a corner five minutes later, and Gyökeres put a header from Smith's cross just over the bar. A minute before half-time, Otto Hindrich saved one-on-one from Nanasi after Gyökeres had set him up.

Hagi replaced Nicușor Bancu with Lisav Eissat at the break, and Romania improved. In the 58th minute Johansson parried a long-range strike from Stanciu and gathered the loose ball before Dennis Man could reach it. Five minutes later he blocked Florin Tănase's first-time shot after Man had played him through.

In the 69th minute Hagi sent on his son Ianis, Valentin Mihăilă and Alexandru Cicâldău. Johansson held Cicâldău's volley, and Mihăilă volleyed wide from Andrei Coubiș's cross. In the 84th minute Johansson saved Man's header from a Cicâldău cross.

Sweden should have made it 2-0 in the first minute of stoppage time. Substitute Daniel Svensson hit the post and Hampus Skoglund put the rebound wide.

What it means in Group B4

Sweden took 10 points from four games in 11 days despite illness and injuries, with Alexander Isak leaving the camp injured after the opening 2-1 win over Romania in Solna. They lead Bosnia and Herzegovina by two points after the Bosnians beat Poland 1-0 in Zenica on Monday. The group winners are promoted to League A.

"We have put ourselves in a good position," Potter told Viaplay. "Now we have to try to finish the job in the next camp." Gyökeres told the broadcaster: "We made it difficult for ourselves at times. But we won the match and kept a clean sheet."

Romania have now lost all four competitive games since Hagi took charge, including a 4-2 home defeat by Bosnia and a 6-0 loss in Warsaw on Friday. They are four points behind third-placed Poland. Asked on Sunday whether he would stay on, Hagi said: "That is for me to decide." He added that he would step aside once he could no longer win, calling it "a matter of honour".

What happens next

Romania host Poland in Bucharest on Saturday 14 November, and Sweden play Bosnia and Herzegovina at Strawberry Arena in Solna the same evening. The group ends on Tuesday 17 November, with Poland v Sweden in Wrocław and Bosnia and Herzegovina v Romania in Zenica.