Senegal vs Netherlands World Cup 2022 LIVE: Result, score and reaction as Dutch snatch late win
Senegal 0-2 Netherlands: Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen’s finishes gave the Dutch victory after a largely dour encounter in Group A
The Netherlands seized the advantage in World Cup Group A as goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen sealed a 2-0 win over African champions Senegal on Monday.
The Lions of Teranga are missing their talisman, Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane, at this tournament and though they battled hard, could not find a way past the debutant Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert. The win puts the Oranje, three times World Cup finalists, in a strong position in the group, with matches against Ecuador and hosts Qatar to come.
A disappointing match at Al Thumama Stadium was played in front of plenty of empty seats, despite organisers’ claims that the country is gripped by World Cup fever. However, the attendance was given as 41,721 – more than the stadium is actually listed to hold.
The goal the Dutch craved finally arrived with six minutes of normal time to go, as Frenkie de Jong swung in a ball from the left and Gakpo beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to it to head home. It was no less than the PSV Eindhoven man deserved after an impressive performance. Substitute Pape Gueye almost responded instantly for Senegal, but again Noppert got down well to a low shot. Eight minutes of injury time were added, and the Dutch sealed victory in the final seconds when Mendy spilled a shot from Memphis Depay and fellow substitute Klaassen followed up to slot home the rebound.
Relive all the action from Qatar with our live blog below:
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
17 mins: Gakpo slips a pass on to Dumfries on the right wing after Netherlands win the ball in the Senegal half...
Dumfries cannot pick out a teammate with his low cross, however, in a somewhat wasted chance.
Moments later, Gapko stands up a cross for Blind, whose back-post header drifts wide!
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
14 mins: Sarr slides a neat ball through to Sabaly on the overlap, but the subsequent cross floats behind for a Netherlands goal kick.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
12 mins: Crunching tackle-meets-clearance by Dumfries out on the right, and the ball falls to Blind in the middle of the pitch.
The Ajax man clips a lovely ball out to the right wing, but the move ends there after an astute Senegal interception.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
10 mins: A Dumfries cross is easily collected by Mendy in the Senegal goal.
Cisse is briefly down in the box, but he’s okay to continue.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
9 mins: Some brave play by Netherlands at the back – brave but foolish!
They lose the ball on their left flank, and Senegal work it into the middle.
Sarr is in space and quickly gets a shot off... He curls it just over the crossbar!
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
8 mins: Senegal are probing here.
A deep cross doesn’t quite fall kindly enough for anyone to turn it in at the back post, but they’ll be encouraged by this spell.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
7 mins: Now Senegal enjoy some possession, which results in them working the ball up the right flank.
Nothing comes of a brief opening, so they switch the ball to the left.
They play it back into the middle, where De Ligt fouls Sarr.
Senegal have a free kick, central and some way from goal.
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
4 mins: CHANCE FOR NETHERLANDS!
Gakpo’s cut-back from the right flashes across the face of the Senegal goal, and Bergwijn is stretching but unable to get on the end of it!!
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
3 mins: Netherlands play the ball around at the back, with centre backs Van Dijk and Ake passing it between themselves.
Van Dijk then boots a pass long, but Bergwijn can’t quite bring it down.
Gakpo ends up in possession on the right wing for the Netherlands, though, and they win a throw-in.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments