‘Nightmare’ loss for Netherlands
Bulgaria stuns three-time Cup runner-up
SOFIA — Netherlands captain Arjen Robben described Saturday’s stunning 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bulgaria as “a nightmare” as the threetime runner-up was left in danger of missing next year’s finals in Russia.
The loss left the Dutch in fourth place, six points behind Group A leader France, which beat Luxembourg 3-1.
The Netherlands is also three back of Sweden, which defeated Belarus 4-0, and two behind Bulgaria.
Only the group winner is guaranteed a berth in the finals in Russia.
“What can I tell you? We came here with good intentions, but it has become a nightmare,” said the 33-yearold Robben, who plays for Bayern Munich.
“We win together and we lose together. Now everyone will dump on us. It’s sad. I’m speechless. The first half was shocking.”
Bulgaria stunned the Dutch with two goals in the first 20 minutes, both coming from Spas Delev.
Delev pounced on a mistake by 17-year-old Matthijs De Ligt, Holland’s youngest debutant since 1931, who misjudged a pass and allowed the striker to fire a shot past Jeroen Zoet.
Delev then made it 2-0 when he unleashed a stinging right-footed blast past Zoet.
Netherland’s coach Danny Blind watched his players dominate large parts of the rest of the match, but they were thwarted by a solid Bulgarian defense while goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov pulled off a super save in the second half to deny Davy Klaassen.
Bas Dost had a weak header saved by Mihaylov as the Netherlands was left to contemplate missing a second straight major tournament, after failing to qualify for Euro 2016.
Meanwhile, in Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo took his international tally to 70 goals as European champion Portugal beat Hungary 3-0.
Porto striker Andre Silva opened the scoring in the 30th minute, converting a pass from Raphael Guerreiro for his fifth goal in six games for Portugal.
Six minutes later, skipper Ronaldo doubled the lead withasuperbleft-footedfinish and the Real Madrid superstar made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with a clever freekick for his 70th international goal.
“We want to go the World Cup so we have to win our next five matches, they are all finals,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
The win kept Portugal in second place in Group B, three points behind Switzerland, which earlier beat Latvia 1-0 at home for its fifth victory in as many games.
Meanwhile, Belgium stayed atop Group H with a 1-1 draw with Greece in Brussels.
Missing the injured Eden Hazard, Belgium lacked a creative spark and was made to pay when Greece grabbed the lead just 20 seconds into the second half on a goal by Benfica striker Kostas Mitroglou — his third of the qualifying campaign.
Greece was reduced to 10 men after 65 minutes when Panagiotis Tachtsidis was redcarded for a crude lunge on defender Toby Alderweireld.
Everton striker Lukaku drove home from close range for Belgium n the 89th minute before Georgios Tzavelas was banished in injury time.
“I feel a lot of frustration. With the amount of individual talent we have at our disposal. We have to show more,” said Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.