Senegal 0 Netherlands 2 – Late Gakpo and Klaassen goals seal opening game win for Holland after Mendy mistakes
SENEGAL fell to a late defeat against the Netherlands, with Edouard Mendy at fault for both.
Cody Gakpo put his side ahead late on after it looked set for a draw as Mendy ran to collect a Frenkie De Jong cross before seeing Gakpo beat him to the ball and head in.
Davy Klaassen added a second after Mendy spilled a Memphis Depay shot straight to the midfielder who fired in to seal the three points.
- Kick-off time: 4pm GMT
- Live stream:
- TV channel: ITV 1
- Senegal XI: Mendy, Koulibaly, Cisse, Diallo, Sabaly, Mendy, Kouyate, Gueye, Diatta, Sarr, Dia
- Netherlands XI: Noppert, Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ake, Blind, De Jong, Berghuis, Gakpo, Janssen, Bergwijn
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73 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Chance!
Senegal star Gueye tries a powerful shot from the edge of the box but Noppert saves.
Doesn't matter, though, as the flag goes up for offside
70 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Senegal look set for another necessary change as Kouyat appears to have hurt his groin during a clash with De Jong.
Physios are on the pitch and there appears to be a signal for a substitution
69 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Substitution
Senegal boss Cisse brings on Dieng, who replaces Dia
67 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
There's a serious lack of spark and creativity from the Netherlands.
Lots of long balls and crosses, the Dutch also prefer to attack from the wings instead of going through the middle
66 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Chance!
Senegal get a good opportunity as Dia tries a shot from a tight corner on the right but Noppert saves
65 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Senegal are looking good on the pitch but they are missing Mane.
The African champs could really use the Bayern star's finishing and pace
62 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Substitution
Senegal boss Cisse responds immediately as Jakobs replaces Diallo, who unfortunately can't continue
62 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Substitution
Netherlands boss Van Gaal makes the first change of the match as Memphis replaces Janssen
60 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Slight pause in the match as Diallo is dealing with a problem on his leg.
No physios on the pitch yet, the issue took place after a clash with Dumfries
58 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Chance
Senegal knock on Netherlands' door as a cross comes from the left and Gueye just fails to get a header.
Diatta gets an awkward shot at the far post and sends the ball to the stands
57 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Yellow card
We have the first booking of the match and it goes to Netherlands star De Ligt
57 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Word from our man in Qatar Neil Custis:
Mexican waves being attempted by a rather bored crowd here at the Al Thumama enduring the Holland v Senegal game. At least the drums from the Senegal fans that are non stop, are keeping everyone awake.
Neil Custis55 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Senegal are better on the ball moving forward but the Netherlands are quite lethal in set-pieces.
Van Dijk's effort proves that
53 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Chance!
Netherlands come close to an opener as Van Dijk jumps higher than everyone else to meet a corner-kick from the right but his effort just misses Mendy's crossbar
50 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
The drum is back in full swing for the second half in Qatar.
Senegal still looking good but we're lacking any major chances
48 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Senegal are still pushing up front, just like we left them at half-time.
Netherlands still lacking a spark...
45 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
And we're back underway in Qatar for the second half.
No changes from either side so far..
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Peep!
Off we go again in Qatar!!!
Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Word from our man on the field, Neil Custis:
After a first minute scare for the Dutch the best of the chances fell their way in a goalless first half.
But when Ismaila Sarr nicked the ball off Matthijs de Ligt it looked like there could be a dramatic start. Sarr moved the ball on to Boulaye Dia whose first time shot was goalbound but deflected over by Frenkie de Jong.
Shaken but not stirred the Oranje replied and with De Ligt now helping rather than hindering his team as he began the move that finished with a dangerous Cody Gakpo cross that Steven Bergwijn stretched for but just failed to connect with.
Next up it was former Manchester United player Daley Blind, watched by Dad and Dutch assistant boss Danny, sneaking in at the far post for a chance at goal but his header from Gakpo’s cross was the wrong side of the upright.
Then came the real big chance on 19 minutes.
Steven Berwijn did a turn that brought gasps to get away from two opponents and find Steven Berhuis to pinpoint De Jong in acres of space on the far side of the goal.
But with Senegal players retreating quickly, De Jong delayed his shot, instead deciding to turn inside one man, then another before the opportunity was gone as Cheikhou Kouyate whacked the ball out of play.
Senegal vs Netherlands stats
The Netherlands dominated 54 per cent of possession in the first half.
Holland registered a total of five shots but none of them were on target.
Senegal, on the other hand, produced six shots but only one of them was on target.
More below:
HT: Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Senegal and the Netherlands are goalless after an intense first half at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Neither side was able to record a significant chance in the first half that lacked clinical shots.
Holland started strong but the African champions managed to balance the scales soon after.
We'll be back for the second half soon!
Credit: Getty
HT: Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Peep!
That's half-time in Qatar!!!
45 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Two more minutes of stoppage time to go until half-time.
Mendy gave away a corner-kick earlier when his goalkeeper and namesake didn't get to the ball in time after his passing header
43 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
As we approach half-time both teams are getting less keen on taking risks.
Looks like both teams are happy to go back to the dressing room with a goalless draw
40 Senegal 0-0 Netherlands
Chance!
Finally an opportunity by the Netherlands!
Berghuis gets a heavy touch and tries a shot from the edge of the box but just misses the crossbar