Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen scored late goals for the Netherlands to defeat Senegal 2-0 and take the lead in World Cup Group A.
The Lions of Teranga, who are competing without their superstar, Sadio Mané of Bayern Munich, were unable to beat the Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert despite their best efforts. With games against Ecuador and the hosts Qatar remaining, the victory puts the Dutch, who have been to the World Cup final three times, in a great position in the group.
Despite assertions from the organizers that the nation is swept up in World Cup excitement, a poor match was played at Al Thumama Stadium in front of a large number of vacant seats. The attendance was listed as 41,721, which is more than the stadium can hold.
In the 19th minute, Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong had arguably the greatest opportunity of the first half. In the inside right channel, Steven Bergwijn sent an angled eye-of-the-needle pass to Steven Berghuis who was surging forward. Berghuis squared the ball to De Jong, who appeared to have the goal at his disposal.
The player, who Manchester United attempted to sign in the summer but ultimately was unsuccessful in doing so, overplayed it, and Cheikhou Kouyate cleared. Ismaila Sarr of Watford had Senegal’s two best opportunities either side of De Jong fumbling his lines.
Senegal pressed high and forced an error from Noppert and the ball eventually broke to Sarr, who curled over. Sarr then cut inside Denzel Dumfries to find space to shoot on the edge of the box.
This time his effort was goalbound but Virgil Van Dijk was able to head it over. The Dutch were living dangerously again when a De Jong pass from his own goal-line caught Van Dijk unawares, but Senegal were unable to punish them.
Van Dijk headed over from a Gakpo corner seven minutes into the second period, before Memphis Depay – back from a hamstring injury – came on as a 62nd-minute substitute.
Three minutes later Senegal came close to going ahead when Boulaye Dia’s low shot arrowed towards the corner, but Noppert got down well at his near post to turn it away. Senegal then lost Kouyate to an injury, with the Nottingham Forest man needing a stretcher after appearing to land awkwardly.
With six minutes remaining in regulation, De Jong swung in a pass from the left, and Gakpo headed home the goal against Edouard Mendy of Chelsea. After a strong performance, the PSV Eindhoven player received exactly what he deserved.
Senegal’s replacement Pape Gueye nearly reacted right away, but Noppert once more reacted superbly to a low shot. In the waning seconds of the eight minutes of extra time, a shot from Depay was fumbled by Mendy, and replacement Klaassen pounced to score on the rebound.