Gakpo and Klaassen rating late targets to sink African champions and fireplace the Oranje to joint-top spot in group A.
The Netherlands left it late to grab a 2-0 victory over Senegal of their Group A World Cup match, in a recreation that was excessive in business however largely missing high quality.
Not each recreation will be a six-goal thriller, however most viewers had been in all probability anticipating a couple of extra highlights from a gathering between two top-20-ranked groups at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.
The Netherlands edged an evenly matched, fluid first half, regardless of Ismaila Sarr sending in a cracking curling shot for Senegal within the twenty fourth minute that was deflected large.
However the recreation slowed in a largely pedestrian second half earlier than a flurry of late probabilities preceded an Eighty fifth-minute objective from Cody Gakpo.
The quantity 8 did nicely to get to Barcelona starlet Frenkie de Jong’s attractive cross forward of Senegal’s keeper, Edouard Mendy, and nod the ball into the online.
Substitute Davy Klaassen added a second within the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time after Mendy failed to assemble a shot.
Senegal struggled with out the affect of star ahead Sadio Mane though Sarr, moved throughout to the left, shone as he tried to make up for the absence of their injured talisman.
Whereas the African champions got here shut on events, they met stiff resistance within the form of Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert, who made a flurry of sturdy saves in his first recreation for the nationwide group.
Dutch followers mentioned they had been pleased with the consequence however acknowledged the general efficiency left lots to be desired.
“I assumed it might be straightforward nevertheless it wasn’t,” Ron Tubee, a fan, informed Al Jazeera on the Al Thumama Stadium.
“Senegal had been excellent, very quick, sturdy and disciplined,” he added.
Fellow Oranje supporter Peter Tobben agreed.
“It was a match of few clear-cut probabilities … it was very shut they usually [Senegal] didn’t should lose. Our first half efficiency was gradual,” Tobben informed Al Jazeera.
Large issues had been anticipated of the Dutch on this event, notably after their absence from Russia in 2018.
After overcoming their first and presumably most troublesome pre-knockout part take a look at, they're nicely poised to qualify as winners from a gaggle that additionally options hosts Qatar and South American aspect Ecuador.
Captain Virgil Van Dijk mentioned there was loads of room for enchancment because the event progresses.
“We received, however we additionally know that we will and should do higher,” Van Dijk informed Dutch broadcaster NOS.
“Going ahead, we generally tried to pressure issues, and we too usually left ourselves uncovered to Senegal’s counter-attacks,” he added.
“That's an space by which we might want to enhance.”
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