The Netherlands finished as winners of Group A, following a comprehensive 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Man of the moment Cody Gakpo fired the Oranje ahead in the 26th minute, while midfielder Frenkie de Jong scored in the second period to make the points safe for Louis van Gaal’s side as they topped Group A with seven points.
In our second feature match of the day, The Teranga Lions of Senegal secured passage into the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a tense 2-1 win against Ecuador.
Coach Aliou Cisse’s men had two great opportunities in the early stages of the opening half but they fluffed their lines. They made amends when Ismaila Sarr scored from the penalty spot, after he was felled by Piero Hincapie.
The Ecuadorians found the equalizer in the second period through Moises Caicedo in the 68th minute, but their joy was short-lived as Kalidou Kolibaly struck only two minutes later (70th minute) as Senegal finished runners-up in Group A behind the Netherlands with six points.
🔴 Live Blog:
FULL-TIME AT THE AL KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM: Ecuador 1-2 Senegal
FULL-TIME AT THE AL BAYT STADIUM: Netherlands 2-0 Qatar
70′ MIN: Kalidou Koulibaly was in the right place at the right time to get to the rebound inside the box and gleefully rifles the ball into the left side of the goal.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Ecuador 1-2 Senegal (K. Koulibaly)
68′ MIN: The resulting corner is whipped into the box and Moises Caicedo buries the ball into the back of the net from a Felix Torres knock down.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Ecuador 1-1 Senegal (M. Caicedo)
49′ MIN: Frenkie de Jong was in the right place at the right time to get to the rebound inside the box and gleefully rifles the ball into the right side of the goal.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Netherlands 2-0 Qatar (F. de Jong)
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE AL KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM: Ecuador 0-1 Senegal
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE AL BAYT STADIUM: Netherlands 1-0 Qatar
HALF-TIME AT THE AL KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM: Ecuador 0-1 Senegal
HALF-TIME AT THE AL BAYT STADIUM: Netherlands 1-0 Qatar
44′ MIN: Ismaila Sarr makes no mistake from the spot, as he converts to give the West Africans the lead.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Ecuador 0-1 Senegal (I. Sarr)
42′ MIN: Piero Hincapie has been adjudged to have brought down Ismaila Sarr down in the area and the centre referee Clement Turpin blows for a spot-kick. Great chance to score for Senegal!
PENALTY!!! To Senegal
26′ MIN: Cody Gakpo scores his third goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The rising star makes a yard for himself after a well-taken pass inside the box and nets inside the right post.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Netherlands 1-0 Qatar (C. Gakpo)
KICK-OFF AT THE AL KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM: Ecuador 0-0 Senegal
KICK-OFF AT THE AL BAYT STADIUM: Netherlands 0-0 Qatar
The Teranga Lions attack lines will be led by Boulaye Dia and Ismaila Sarr. Skipper Kalidou Koulibaly will marshal the defence while Edouard Mendy is in goal for coach Aliou Cisse’s men.
Ecuador’s line-up includes the skipper of the side and the scorer of the country’s last six goals at the FIFA World Cup Enner Valencia, while Brighton’s duo of Pervis Estupinan and Moises Caicedo are in the Starting XI.
Qatar’s Starting line-up set to battle the Netherlands at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Oranje boss Louis Van Gaal has named Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo in the starting line-up. Also, regular faces such as Frenkie de Jong, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Davy Klaasen are in the XI.
Apex Football News 