Netherlands hold Belgium
Arnaut Groeneveld celebrated his first start for the Netherlands by scoring a first-half equaliser yesterday as the Dutch drew 1-1 with neighbours Belgium.
The 21-year-old midfielder who plays for Belgium’s Club Brugge rounded off a flowing Dutch move in the 27th minute, controlling the ball with his left foot and shooting under Simon Mignolet with his right after Memphis Depay threaded a pass between two Belgian defenders.
Dries Mertens had given Belgium an early lead with a powerful volley in the fifth minute of the 127th lowlands derby.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman made six changes to the team that beat Germany 3-0 on Saturday, while Roberto Martinez made five changes from Friday’s 2-1 victory over Switzerland
Belgium dominated the opening phase, barely allowing the Netherlands a touch of the ball as Eden Hazard orchestrated repeated attacks.
Mertens opened the scoring in just the fifth minute with a stinging volley after Donny van de Beek had headed clear a cross by Hazard.
Martinez substituted Hazard at half-time for his brother Thorgan and also rested Romelu Lukaku and Mertens for the second half of the match.
Defender Nathen Ake came close to scoring a winner in the 79th minute, but his powerful header was well saved by Simon Mignolet. At the other end, Jasper Cillessen reacted quickly to save a snapshot by Michy Batshuayi in the 87th.