Netherlands vs Spain LIVE: Latest updates as Mikel Merino rescues result for La Roja
Netherlands 2-2 Spain: Mikel Merino rescued a result for La Roja after a late Jorrel Hato red card
The Netherlands and Spain fought to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final in Rotterdam tonight.
The European champions started the game on the back foot but they had the opening goal after Pedri set up Nico Williams to blast in.
But far from pressing on, La Roja retreated as the Dutch grew into the match and began to dominate.
This pressure eventually paid off before the half ended as Justin Kluivert squared it for Cody Gakpo to rifle in a low shot, and the second half got off to a dream start as Frimpong cut back for Tijani Reijnders to place a brilliant finish past Unai Simon less than a minute after the restart.
However, a late red card for Hato let the visitors back into it, and the Spanish pressure told as Mikel Merino tapped in from Williams’ shot to earn La Roja a result ahead of the second leg in Valencia on Sunday.
Follow all the latest reaction from De Kuip below:
GOAL! Netherlands 0-1 Spain
9 mins
GOAL! Out of nowhere, the visitors lead!
Hato is caught out by Yamal right on the touchline and the Barca youngster squares it to Pedri in the box.
The midfielder looks up and finds Nico Williams, who controls it on the turn before firing low past Verbruggen!
Netherlands 0-0 Spain
6 mins
Plenty of possession for the hosts in the opening exchanges. The Spanish haven’t been able to exert control at all yet.
Netherlands 0-0 Spain
4 mins
Now it’s the hosts’ first attack, as Frimpong gets forward and hooks in an early cross. Gakpo collects, but he fires well over after cutting inside.
Contrary to the earlier team news, the team graphics have Frimpong starting as an out-and-out right winger.
Netherlands 0-0 Spain
2 mins
A few exchanges of possession to begin with and the latest ends with Ruiz slipping through a pass to Pedri, who hits a shot straight at Verbruggen.
Not a bad start.
KICK-OFF! Netherlands 0-0 Spain
We’re underway in Rotterdam!
Netherlands vs Spain LIVE
The crowd are warming up at De Kuip and both sides are in the tunnel now. We’re around five minutes from kick-off.
Spain form guide
Spain have won all five of their last five matches, with a draw in their other Nations League group game (0-0 against Serbia away).
La Roja beat Serbia at home and then won home and away against Denmark and Switzerland over the course of the campaign, scoring 13 and conceding just four in the process.
Previous meetings: Spain 1-5 Netherlands, 2014 World Cup
If that 2010 World Cup win signalled Spain as one of the great sides in football history, this match was the one that signalled the end of that dynasty.
Four years on from the win in South Africa, these two sides met again in Group B in Brazil, and the Netherlands got their revenge in spectacular style.
Despite Spain going 1-0 up through a Xabi Alonso penalty, the Dutch hit back through a now-famous van Persie header before Arjen Robben gave them the lead.
From there it was one-way traffic as both van Persie and Roben secured a brace after Stefan de Vrij had made it 3-1, giving the Netherlands one of the most famous results in recent World Cup history.
Netherlands form guide
The Dutch have won one, lost one and drawn three of their last five matches, with the win and loss coming against Hungary and Germany respectively.
Koeman’s side also managed a draw against both of those sides, with the other result being a 1-1 draw with Bosnia last time out.
Previous meetings: Netherlands 0-1 Spain, 2010 WC Final
The most famous match between these two came in 2010, at the World Cup Final in Johannesburg.
After a match that had seen plenty of missed chances, a red card for John Heitinga and a blatant red card not given to Nigel de Jong, Andres Iniesta popped up with a lovely half-volley to give La Roja their maiden World Cup win.
Having won Euro 2008, this result sealed Spain’s dominance at international level, with players including Xavi, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas featuring again as La Roja won Euro 2012 in style.
For the Netherlands, it was another heartbreak on the biggest stage.
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