Louis Van Gaah’s Netherlands has achieved a hard-fought victory against Senegal (0-2) in the first day of group A of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The game began with a give and take, but after a quarter of an hour the Dutch began to dominate and frequently create danger.
They left it late 😅
🇳🇱 Watch the best bits from @OnsOranje's victory over Senegal on FIFA+
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2022
Senegal seemed to trust on their counterattacks and some loose attempt on the left flank. All in all, the match came to rest without too clear chances and without movement on the scoreboard.
The script did not change after the break and the team led by Frenkie de Jong continued to show itself better than Senegal, although with little powder. To try to remedy it, at game one hour Louis Van Gaal brought on Memphis Depay.
Cody Gakpo struck with six minutes remaining and Davy Klaassen scored deep into stoppage time to earn the Netherlands a precious victory from their opening FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 meeting with Senegal.
The game at Al Thumama Stadium appeared destined for stalemate when Frenkie de Jong swung a left-wing delivery beyond the Senegal backline. PSV Eindhoven forward Gakpo timed his run perfectly, escaping the offside trap and arriving a fraction ahead of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to apply a faint headed touch to steer the ball into the net.
Three great saves from Noppert African champion with two shots from Dia and Gana Gueye that were met with interventions by Noppert.
Pape Gueye tried again with a dry shot that once again forced Noppert to dive, thus responding to the trust that Van Gaal has placed in him.
Gakpo’s strike was the Netherlands’ first attempt on target, the best they’d managed until this point a brisk first-half break that ended with De Jong taking too long over his touch in the penalty area.
Senegal aimed 15 attempts at goal, but directed only four on target. Andries Noppert, the goalkeeper making his international debut, saved at the foot of his near post from Boulaye Dia at 0-0. And when the African team tried to muster a response to Gakpo’s goal, Noppert was equal to Pape Gueye’s low blast.
And the Netherlands wrapped up the three points when Klaassen converted on the rebound after Mendy parried Memphis Depay’s low shot on the counter.
Its all about the Netherlands, who overcame a stodgy initial performance to maintain a number of impressive sequences.
The three-times runners-up are unbeaten in their past 14 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (W11 D3), and are currently on a seven-match winning streak in group fixtures. Louis van Gaal is unbeaten in his 16 matches (W12 D4) since his appointment for a third spell in charge in August 2021.
Player of the match :Cody Gakpo.
Netherlands' star man on their opening night 🤩
See the highlights now on FIFA+#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2022
By Fernando Perez (Football Analyst, Spain)
Bengali