Sweden opened their UEFA Nations League campaign in League B with a commanding 2-1 triumph over Romania, extending their dominance in the fixture to five victories in their last six meetings. The victory marked a successful return to the second tier of the competition for the Swedes, while Gheorghe Hagi's much-anticipated second spell in charge of Romania began on a disappointing note after an absence of a quarter-century from the role. Despite the setback, Romania demonstrated resilience throughout, keeping the encounter competitive until the final whistle.
The match delivered early intensity when Sweden's attack threatened immediately, with goalkeeper Ionut Radu forced into action within the opening minute to parry Sebastian Nanasi's curling effort and block an Alexander Isak shot from a tight angle. Romania responded with their own attacking intent, coming close when Andrei Ratiu's cross found Louis Munteanu, whose glancing header sailed just wide. Sweden's breakthrough arrived when Yasin Ayari's precisely-weighted through ball allowed Isak to fire a first-time finish past Radu—a crucial goal given that the Swedish side had entered the contest without a competitive clean sheet since the previous Nations League cycle. However, Sweden's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed just before the half-hour when Dennis Man collected Ratiu's pass, shrugged off his marker, and finished with a cushioned half-volley to equalize.
The pendulum swung back in Sweden's favor heading into the interval when Lucas Bergvall's powerful strike forced Radu into a crucial save, only for Viktor Gyokeres to pounce on the rebound and restore Sweden's lead on 43 minutes—ending a three-match international drought for the forward. Early in the second half, Sweden believed they had extended their advantage when Elliot Stroud curled a stunning effort into the top corner from 20 yards, but VAR intervention ruled out the goal due to a handball in the build-up. Despite sustained pressure, Sweden ultimately managed to see out the victory, closing out a fourth win in their last five home matches while Romania continued their difficult stretch, now going seven matches without either a victory or a clean sheet in away competitions.
The result underscores Sweden's progression as a formidable Nations League outfit—they had netted 19 goals in the previous cycle, surpassing Romania's tally of 18—and sets a positive tone for their League B campaign under Graham Potter. For Hagi and Romania, there remains work ahead as they seek to rebuild momentum following this opening-match defeat, though their competitive spirit throughout suggests the campaign remains very much alive.