Oranje Futsal seized control of Group 8 in the main round of the UEFA World Cup qualifying campaign by defeating Andorra 5-1 at the Poliesportiu d’Andorra in Andorra la Vella, according to reports from nos.nl and onsoranje.nl.
The victory lifts the Dutch side to the top of the three-team qualifying group on goal difference ahead of Serbia. Ayoub Boukhari and Mohamed Chih each scored twice during a dominant first half before Tevfik Ceyar sealed the scoreline in the dying seconds of the match. Oranje Futsal opened the qualification campaign last month against Serbia in Den Bosch, where an effective Serbian side led 0-3 with seven minutes remaining before the Dutch team deployed a fly-keeper and fought back to earn a 3-3 draw.
First-Half Dominance Builds a Four-Goal Cushion
Head coach Miguel Andrés Moreno watched his team put together a commanding opening twenty minutes in the Pyreneeën. Before kickoff, players and officials observed a minute of silence for Jesús de Miguel, the CD Tenerife forward who passed away following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono, as noted by onsoranje.nl.
Once play commenced, the Dutch squad established immediate tactical control against Andorra’s low defensive block, a tactical challenge that previously saw the number 66 in the world hold the Netherlands to two draws early in 2025 (5-5 in Den Bosch and 1-1 in Andorra), point losses that meant the Dutch side could forget about the 2026 European Championship. After Ismail Ouaddouh struck the goalpost, Ayoub Boukhari broke the deadlock in the eleventh minute by dribbling inside and firing a shot that deflected off an Andorrese defender into the top corner. Mohamed Chih added a second shortly after, converting a subtle backheel pass from Stan van der Wal. Chih capitalised again in the eighteenth minute by intercepting a loose pass from Oriol Rodriguez to make it 0-3. Boukhari then combined with Tevfik Ceyar to round off the first half with a fourth Dutch goal.
Andorrese Resistance and Late Drama in the Pyrenees
The second half unfolded differently as the Dutch side conceded territorial advantage. Andorra capitalized in the fifty-fourth minute when Adria Blat drove a long-range effort past the defense into the far corner to narrow the deficit.
Trailing 1-4, the hosts substituted their goalkeeper for an outfield player in search of further goals. The tactical risk backfired in the closing seconds when Tevfik Ceyar intercepted possession deep in his own half and launched the ball into the unguarded Andorrese net to secure the 1-5 final score.
Standings Implications and Upcoming Fixtures in Rotterdam
The victory leaves the Netherlands level on points with group favorites Serbia, who previously defeated Andorra 4-0.
Oranje Futsal will face Andorra for a second time on Wednesday, November 11, at the Topsportcentrum in Rotterdam, with kickoff scheduled for 19.30 CET, providing an immediate opportunity to consolidate their position at the summit of Group 8.
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