Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen goals give Netherlands victory against Senegal in their Group A encounter at the Al Thumama Stadium.
World Cup 2022 Highlights as Senegal defeated by Netherlands 0-2 in the second game of group A. Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen scored very late to give Oranje the first victory after the long wait to return to the World Cup.
More highlights here:
Senegal was great in defending with counter-attack, but the African team was not crucial enough.
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Game highlights
It’s safe to the AFCON champions were badly missing Sadio Mane who had to withdraw at the very end due to injury.
Senegal did not make a shot on target until the 65th minute. Their best chance came after that when Boulaye Dia attempted a sneak one past Andries Noppert in the post.
In the first 45 minutes, the game was tight, but Oranje had better plays and tactics to approach Edouard Mendy’s post.
The best chance of the first half, though, came from the Senegalese forward Ismaila Sarr, who, in the absence of Mane, supplied attacking prowess.
Sarr whipped a curling right-footed shot that, if not for the head of centerback Virgil van Dijk, seemed headed for the corner.
The main final minutes that decided
The game was decided within only 10 minutes. Cody scored from a header at the 84th, following by Klaassen’s tap-in in the last minute of injury time.
- 84: Cody Gakpo beats Edouard Mendy to Frenkie de Jong’s cross to nod the Netherlands ahead
- 86: Andries Noppert denies Senegal a way back into the game after saving from Pape Gueye.
- 90+9: Davy Klaassen pounces on Mendy’s error to seal the win for the Netherlands
Gakpo made a perfectly timed run to head home a beautifully weighted cross from Frenkie de Jong, before Klaassen tapped home to seal the win deep into injury time.
The Dutch are now undefeated in 16 matches under coach Louis van Gaal. They also stretched an unbeaten record in their opening game at World Cups that dates back to 1938.
Gakpo has now scored three goals in his last four internationals.
Group A after two games
Netherlands and Ecuador are now level on points and the next game between the pair could be decisive for the top place of the group.
Meanwhile, Senegal and Qatar are having their hopes slim after the defeats.
