Frankfurt: A 1-1 draw between Slovakia and Romania on Wednesday sent both sides into the last-16 of Euro 2024, with Romania topping the Group E standings and Slovakia through as one of the four best third-placed sides.

The group was on a knife-edge with all four teams beginning the final day on three points and although a draw would have been enough for both sides, the game was action-packed.

The sides went in level at the break after Ondrej Duda put Slovakia in front with a header from Juraj Kucka’s cross and Romania levelled with a penalty converted by Razvan Marin.

For the first time in the history of Euros, all four teams finished level on four points, but Romania finished top thanks to more goals scored than Belgium who were runners-up, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference.

Ukraine ended bottom because of a worse goal difference than Slovakia and exit the tournament.

Romania will face either Slovenia or the Netherlands in the last-16.

Romania rode Marin’s penalty to progress past the group stages of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000.

Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent. Ianis Hagi, son of Romania great Gheorghe, was less than two years old in the summer of 2000.

His clever skill inside the box helped earn him a penalty against Slovakia, and he was lively throughout his 67 minutes on the pitch, firing the rebound over from Andrei Ratiu’s curled effort.

Marin’s 30-yard free-kick arrowed narrowly wide while Denis Dragus dragged an effort past the post as Romania pushed for a second goal.

Slovakia also pushed for victory with David Strelec’s shot from inside the box well saved by the feet of Florin Nita and Lukas Haraslin’s low-struck effort curling narrowly wide of the post.

Duda’s goal meant he became the first player to score for Slovakia at two major international tournaments, also netting against Wales in Euro 2016.

There was a party atmosphere at full-time for both sets of fans and players as their Euro journeys continued.

Written with inputs from Reuters