SPAIN'S good fortune in Euro 96 continued yesterday when they clinched a quarter final place with a hard fought victory over Group B strugglers Romania at Elland Road.

But the Spaniards left it late. Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Raducioiu, two of Romania's Barcelona based players, looked to have denied Spain when they combined to cancel out Javier Mapjarin's first half goal.

Then just six minutes from time substitute Guillermo Amor stooped to head home Alfonso's knock back to give his side victory and deny Romania their first point in the competition.

After Romania had wasted some clearcut chances, Spain - somewhat fortuitously - opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Miguel Angel Nadal sent a hopeful pass forward which cannoned off the heels of team mate Juan Pizzi to roll perfectly into the path of Manjarin who slotted the ball beyond Romanian goalkeeper Florin Prunea, who had come in for Bogdan Stelea.

Romania's frustration at the setback brought bookings for Dan Petrescu for a foul while Hagi's determination to argue every contentious decision by the officials eventually yielded a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

But Hagi, making a century of appearances for his country, was the catalyst for Romania's 29th minute equaliser, their first goal of the tournament. He freed Raducioiu, who moved in on goal before comfortably beating Andoni Zubizaretta with a right footed shot.

Spain finally displayed some much needed urgency after the break with Manjarin forcing Prunea into a fine finger tip save, while Sergi saw a fierce drive whistle inches past the post.

Spain must have thought their quarter final chances had gone when Fernando Hierro saw his shot on the turn somehow blocked by the midriff of Georghe Popescu lying directly in front of his goal.

But they were not to be denied as Hagi's Barcelona team mate Amor, who had come on just 20 minutes earlier, struck the decisive header from inside the six yard box.