Cody Gakpo scored once more on the World Cup however the Netherlands missed the possibility to safe a spot within the final 16 on Friday as they had been held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Ecuador, a outcome which eradicated host nation Qatar.
Ecuador ahead Kevin Rodriguez (L) and Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk struggle for the ball throughout the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group A soccer match between the Netherlands and Ecuador on the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on 25 November 2022. Picture: Jewel SAMAD/AFP
DOHA – Cody Gakpo scored once more on the World Cup however the Netherlands missed the possibility to safe a spot within the final 16 on Friday as they had been held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Ecuador, a outcome which eradicated host nation Qatar.
Gakpo, the gangly PSV Eindhoven ahead who has been strongly linked with a transfer to Manchester United, put the Netherlands in entrance with an excellent strike within the sixth minute on the Khalifa International Stadium.
Yet, with a big and vociferous assist behind them, Ecuador fought again with such ferocity that the Dutch had been rattled, and so they deserved the equaliser when it got here via Enner Valencia 4 minutes after half-time.
It was Ecuador captain Valencia’s third objective of the World Cup already after his brace in his nation’s opening win over Qatar.
And one consequence of this result’s that the host nation, already overwhelmed twice, are the primary staff to be eradicated from their very own World Cup.
In distinction three-time overwhelmed finalists the Netherlands usually are not fairly via to the following spherical, with one level separating them, Ecuador and Senegal, who defeated Qatar 3-1 earlier.
Ecuador and Senegal meet within the final spherical of Group A matches subsequent Tuesday, whereas Louis van Gaal’s Dutch facet meet the hosts understanding a draw will make sure their place within the knockout part.
Much of the speak earlier than this sport had been about Memphis Depay, with the Barcelona ahead having impressed as a second-half substitute within the 2-0 win over Senegal in his first sport in two months after a thigh damage.
While he as soon as once more began on the bench right here, it was the 23-year-old Gakpo who once more starred in entrance of objective.
Scorer of the late headed opener towards Senegal, he acquired an early breakthrough on this event, lashing a left-foot shot between the despairing dive of Hernan Galindez and the left-hand put up after being arrange by Davy Klaassen.
DESERVED EQUALISER
Yet that, remarkably, was to be the Netherlands’ solely shot heading in the right direction as they had been pushed again by Ecuador for a lot of the remainder of the sport.
Giant Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert needed to get right down to his proper to maintain out a shot from Valencia, who had been a pre-match health doubt.
Then Ecuador thought they’d equalised in first-half stoppage time when Pervis Estupinan diverted an Angelo Preciado shot into the web, however the objective was disallowed for an offside towards Jackson Porozo.
Depay then got here on for Steven Bergwijn in the beginning of the second half however Ecuador quickly acquired their equaliser.
Estupinan was once more concerned because the Brighton and Hove Albion wing-back’s shot was saved by Noppert however Valencia adopted in to transform the free ball.
They would possibly even have gained it, with Gonzalo Plata crashing a shot off the crossbar simply earlier than the hour mark.
An encouraging night for Ecuador was marred by the sight of Valencia coming off on a stretcher late on after which sitting with ice round his proper knee, and they’re going to hope their all-time high scorer can get well shortly.
They will certainly want him for a nerve-jangling showdown with Senegal with a spot within the final 16 on the road – it’s a stage they’ve reached solely as soon as earlier than, after they had been overwhelmed 1-0 by England in 2006.