Hosts Qatar crash out of World Cup after Dutch held by Ecuador
SIMPLY SPECTACULAR!
CODY Gakpo scored again served the equaliser when it Ecuador and Senegal by Iran in Qatar.
at the World Cup but the came through Enner Valenmeet in the last round of Substitute Roozbeh
Netherlands missed the cia four minutes after halfGroup A matches next TuesCheshmi struck from 20
chance to secure a place in time. day, while Louis van Gaal’s yards nine minutes into
the last 16 yesterday as they It was Ecuador captain Dutch side meet the hosts stoppage time, before
were held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia’s third goal of the knowing a draw will make Ramin Rezaeian finished …Richarlison scores acrobatic volley as Brazil steamroll Serbia
a battling Ecuador, a result World Cup already after his certain their place in the off a counter-attack to seal
which eliminated host nabrace in his country’s openknockout phase. victory for a revitalised Iran
A SECOND-HALF brace by saved. 1-0 earlier and who are Brazil's great rivals Argentina suffering
tion Qatar. ing win over Qatar. Much of the talk before side, who have renewed
Richarlison, including a stunVinicius then set up Richarnext opponents. a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia at
Gakpo, the gangly PSV And one consequence of this game had been about hope of reaching the knock
ning overhead scissor kick, lison to score again in the 73rd The scoreline here was the the same stadium and Germany
Eindhoven forward who has this result is that the host naMemphis Depay, with the out stages for the first time
gave tournament favourites minute with a stunning acrosame as when these sides met being shocked by Japan.
been strongly linked with a tion, already beaten twice, Barcelona forward having in their history.
Brazil a 2-0 win over Serbia in batic effort that is surely the in the group stage in 2018 but However, Brazil would have
move to Manchester United, are the first team to be elimimpressed as a second-half Those were decisive blows
their opening World Cup game goal of the World Cup so far. Brazil are determined to do far known not to take Serbia lightly,
put the Netherlands in front inated from their own World substitute in the 2-0 win to Welsh prospects of victory,
at the Lusail Stadium on ThursThe result continues Brazil's better than four years ago, when given that the side who lie 21st
with a superb strike in the Cup. over Senegal in his first which had all but vanished
day. superb record in the World Cup they lost to Belgium in the quarin the FIFA rankings are one of
sixth minute at the Khalifa In contrast three-time game in two months after a when goalkeeper Wayne
The record five-time wingroup stage, in which their last ter-finals. Europe's most improved teams
International Stadium. beaten finalists the Netherthigh injury. Hennessey was sent off with ners had toiled at times in the defeat came in 1998 against They have come to Qatar as and topped their qualifying
Yet, with a large and vociflands are not quite through Meanwhile, Wales’ first four minutes of normal time first half but improved after the Norway, when they had already the favourites for a sixth title, group above Portugal.
erous support behind them, to the next round, with one World Cup for 64 years looks remaining, following a video break and were rewarded when secured a place in the next two decades after their last vicYet it still would have been a Tottenham Ecuador Hotspur fought back striker with round. point separating them, Ecset tory. to end at the first hurdle assistant huge shock referee for check, Brazil to for lose a at a Richarlison such ferocity followed that in the to score Dutch uador Tite's side and are Senegal, now already who deon after Other a gut-wrenching results in the - but openreckless ground challenge where they on intend Medhi to rethe opener were rattled, in the 62nd and minute they detop feated of Group Qatar G 3-1 ahead earlier. of Switdeserved ing round - of last-ditch matches defeat in Qatar Taremi. turn for the final on December when a Vinicius Junior shot was zerland, who beat Cameroon served as a warning, with their 18. – AFP.