World News
At the World Cup, the Netherlands defeated Senegal 2-0.
Nov
Doha, Qatar (AP) — For the Netherlands, Louis van Gaal’s bets on both ends of the field paid off.
Doha, Qatar (AP) —For the Netherlands, Louis van Gaal’s bets on both ends of the field paid off.
The Netherlands defeated Senegal 2-0 on Monday at the World Cup thanks to two late goals from Memphis Depay, who made his comeback from injury up front.
After Van Gaal chose to give him his international debut in a crucial World Cup game and only two months after he was originally invited into the national team, Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert made three crucial stops to put the African champions at bay.
The Netherlands coach said, “His ability is that he can stop balls, and he did that three times today, and he did it wonderfully.”
The Dutch team’s late goals from Cody Gakpo and substitute Davy Klaasen ensured its victorious start at its first World Cup since 2014, when Van Gaal served as head coach.
The team’s first shot on goal came from Gakpo, who rose to tip a header in from a cross by Frenkie de Jong in the 84th minute. At the conclusion of eight minutes of extra time, Klaasen scored a second goal by slipping the ball in after Depay’s attempt was just marginally stopped by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Due to Senegal’s being the more spirited side, the orange-shirted Dutch supporters remained quiet until the late strikes. For most of the game, the Senegalese drums and chanting could be heard well from the stands.
Senegal’s major issue, though, was foreseeable: Without injured striker Sadio Mane, it was unable to take advantage of any of its opportunities.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said, “I believe we did everything, and I think we deserved at least a point from this game.” Sadio’s disappearance is a concern for us, of course.
Van Gaal, the senior coach, indicated the day before that he wasn’t sure whether Depay was fit for play since the Barcelona attacker had just recently returned from a hamstring injury. Depay was then introduced by Van Gaal with around 30 minutes remaining.
Depay replied by participating in both goals as a result of his decision to find out whether he was.
Before the midfielder passed to Gakpo for the first goal, he initially connected with De Jong close to the area’s boundary. Klaasen, one of four replacements in the game, scored the second goal as a result of Depay’s run and shot in the last seconds. It concluded a Dutch triumph and the nation’s 16th game without a loss since 71-year-old Van Gaal, the World Cup’s oldest coach, came out of retirement last year to take charge of his nation for a third time.
Van Gaal referred to the replacements as “the breakthrough.” Memphis had a major role in it.
SENEGAL’S REVERSAL
Senegal central midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate seemed to have a major injury as he was carried away on a stretcher while holding his right leg, which contributed to the extended injury time, which lasted for about nine minutes. In the first match after the squad lost Mane for the duration of the World Cup due to a right leg injury, Cisse watched silently as one of his most crucial midfielders was taken off the field.
Senegal was hailed as perhaps the finest African squad to ever play in a World Cup after winning the African Cup at the beginning of the year. It’s a fight to get through the group stage with Mane out and a defeat in the first game.
Beneath the radar
The Dutch weren’t much discussed before the World Cup, but they have an excellent record under Van Gaal, and they have already passed what he had said would be their biggest test of the group stage.
“A 2-0 triumph against the African Cup champions “I can be really happy,” remarked Van Gaal.
NEXT UP
If the squad defeats Ecuador in its next game, the Netherlands will advance to the round of 16. Senegal’s match with host Qatar is a must-win.
“That is now like a final,” Cisse said.
From Macallcloth
