The Netherlands are off to a winning start in the Nations League with a thrilling 4-0 victory over Belgium in Brussels.
Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a sublime finish. The scoring continued in the second half when Memphis Depay slotted home from a Bergwijn pass.
Denzel Dumfries made it three in the 61st minute before Depay rounded it off to four in the 65th minute.
Belgium and Netherlands meet tonight in a heavyweight Nations League showdown in Brussels. The 2022/23 campaign got underway this week and these rivals kick off with a key game in Division A Group 4.
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Goal! Belgium 0-4 Netherlands
It is Memphis Depay again. Great finish on the volley!
Goal! Belgium 0-3 Netherlands
Denzel Dumfries gets his goal!
Goal! Belgium 0-2 Netherlands
It is 2-0, great finish by Depay into the bottom left corner.
Second Half
Mertens, a halftime substitute, brings down Blind with a studs-up challenge down his heel and receives a yellow card for his effort.
A bit too keen from the substitute.
Half-time
It has been a great game so far, lit up by Steven Bergwijn’s knuckle-ball strike into the bottom corner.
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku came off around the 20-minute mark, and with him took most of his side’s attacking threat, but Eden Hazard has shown glimpses of hope for the Red Devils.
Goal! Belgium 0-1 Netherlands
Steven Bergwijn has just scored a BEAUTY! He picks the ball up about 25 yards out, takes two touches and absolutely launches a strike into the bottom right-hand corner.
Kick-Off
And so it begins! Who will win between these historic rivals?
Starting XI
Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side are still on their way back after missing the last World Cup and coming up short in the Euros, but can continue to reassert themselves ahead of facing the hosts’ group in Qatar later this year.
Meanwhile, there is always pressure on this Belgium group, which finished fourth in last year’s Nations League finals and are out to go one better in a group completed by Poland and Wales.
Apex Football News 