Both teams continue in Group A on Friday. Senegal meets outsiders Qatar (2 p.m., live on ORF1), the Dutch face Ecuador (5 p.m.). The South Americans had defeated the hosts 2-0 in the opening game. Goalie Andries Noppert made his national team debut for the Netherlands. Up front, Bond coach Van Gaal relied on Vincent Janssen instead of the ailing Memphis Depay. Ismaila Sarr replaced injured superstar Sadio Mane on the left wing of reigning African champions Senegal.
The 24-year-old Watford legionnaire also had his legs in the first chance for coach Aliou Cisse’s side. Sarr captured the ball on the left and passed it to Boulaye Dia in the penalty area. His shot was blocked by Frenkie de Jong for a corner (1st). On the other side, the Elftal showed beautiful combination football. Jansen placed the ball on the right in the penalty area to Cody Gakpo, who passed it across to Steven Bergwijn, but the Ajax Amsterdam striker missed the ball by a few centimeters (4′).
Netherlands defeat Senegal at the start
The Netherlands have won their first game at the 2022 World Cup. In the second game of Group A, Louis van Gaal’s team beat Senegal 2-0 (0-0) with late goals on Monday at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. Cody Gakpo scored with a header after a cross from Frenkie de Jong (84′), Davy Klaassen increased again in another long stoppage time (90′ + 9′).
Senegal mostly dangerous over Sarr
When Senegal became dangerous, Sarr was usually right in the middle. This was also the case in the nine minutes when the 24-year-old fired a shot at the Netherlands goal from the edge of the penalty area. However, the ball went over it, goalie Noppert did not have to intervene. But De Jong missed the best goal chance up to that point. The Barcelona legionnaire was ideally served with a cross pass by Berghuis, he moved into the penalty area and sent Senegal’s Nampalys Mendy out with a hook. Instead of finishing, De Jong wanted to dance out another defender and lost the ball (19′).
After that, the game rippled a bit. The teams neutralized each other, especially the defense was solid on both sides. Elftal captain Virgil van Dijk was able to clear a long-range shot by Sarr from the corner of the penalty area (25′). The Netherlands had the last big chance before the break. Janssen gave Berghuis a high five just outside the penalty area. He didn’t hesitate and fired a sharp left shot at the goal of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, but the ball went just over it (40′).
Van Dijk heads just over it
Both teams came out of the dressing room unchanged in the second half. As in the first half of the game, the game remained very even and hard fought. The Netherlands had their first chance after the break with a corner kick. Gakpo sent a high ball into the penalty area and found captain Van Dijk, whose powerful header just grazed the bar (53′).
After a little more than an hour of play, the first changes took place. Depay came on for Janssen for the Netherlands, while Abdou Diallo made way for Ismail Jakobs for Senegal (62′). A little later, the African champions had their best chance to score. Boulaye Dia wanted to surprise goalie Noppert with a shot from a tight angle. The Heerenveen goalie was on his toes and saved the corner (65′). After that Dia had to make way for Bamba Dieng (69th).
In the 73rd minute, Noppert was able to excel again. The 28-year-old deflected a sharp shot to the side from an ambush by Idrissa Gueye. With a double swap of Pape Gueye for Cheikhou Kouyate and Nicolas Jackson for Krepin Diatta (73rd), Senegal’s team boss Cisse then exhausted his quota of changes. Van Gaal also brought fresh forces for the final phase. Davy Klaassen replaced Bergwijn and Teun Koopmeiners came on for Berghuis (79′).
Gakpo hits the back of the head
Then, during a period when Senegal were the dominant team, the goal came for the Netherlands. De Jong, unchallenged by the opponent on the left, sent a high cross into the six-yard box and Gakpo headed past goalkeeper Mendy (84′). The Africans almost had an answer ready: Noppert was able to fish Gueye’s low shot from around 20 meters out of the right corner (86′).
In the final phase with eight minutes of added time, the Dutch didn’t allow Senegal any further chances. On the contrary: After Depay went it alone, goalman Mendy was able to steer his degree to the side. However, the ball landed in front of Klaassen’s feet, who only had to dust off to make it 2-0 (99′).
Comments on the game:
Louis van Gaal (Netherlands team boss): “A 2-0 win against the African champions, I can be very, very satisfied. It was a difficult game, but we were effective and in the end fitter than our opponents.”
Aliou Cisse (Senegal Team Principal): “We are very disappointed that we didn’t score. We had two or three very good chances. We need to be more effective in front of goal. Our strikers are good and we know they can do that. Of course the absence of Mane is a problem for us. The fact that we lost will motivate us even more to be even better prepared for the next games.”
FIFA World Cup 2022, Group B, first matchday
Montag:
Senegal 0-2 Netherlands (0-0)
Doha, Al Thumama Stadium, 41,721 spectators, SR Wilton Sampaio (BRA)
Torfolge:
0:1 Steel (84.)
0:2 Klaassen (90.+9)
Senegal: E. Mendy – Sabaly, Koulibaly, Cisse, Diallo (62./Jakobs) – Kouyaté (74./P. Gueye), I. Gueye, N. Mendy – Diatta (74./Jackson), Dia (69./Dieng). ), I. Sarr
Netherlands: Noppert – De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake – Dumfries, Berghuis (79./Koopmeiners), F. De Jong, Blind – Gakpo (94./De Roon) – Bergwijn (79./Klaassen), Janssen (62./Depay )
Yellow cards: N. Mendy, I. Gueye and De Ligt
The Best: Koulibaly, Sarr bzw. De Jong, Van Dijk, Noppert
