GaKPo stars as dutCh toP GrouP a
Qatar count on the experience of making debut at the highest level of the sport
HOST nation Qatar’s debut at the FIFA World Cup 2022 came to an end as Cody Gakpo scored again for the Netherlands helping his team move into the last 16 with a 2-0 win in their Group A match at the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday.
Senegal joined the Netherlands from the group ifollowing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ecuador, thanks to Kalidou Koulibaly’s thumping winner in the 70th minute.
Senegal, without star man Sadio Mané, reached the last 16 for the first time since making the quarter-finals in 2002. They made sure there will be African representation in the knockout rounds after no team managed the feat in 2018.
The Dutch, the Africans champions and the South Americans all had the chance to go through at the start of the day but Louis van Gaal’s side were in the box seat.
The three-times runners-up continued their run of reaching the last 16 or second round of every World Cup they have attended as Gakpo broke into the box and finished calmly on the 26th minute. Frenkie de Jong added the second.
Gakpo said: “We do it as a team and everyone helps each other. I’ve been the finishing point three times now, but we all do it together. Of course it’s a nice feeling, but it’s more important we are through.”
Dutch forward Memphis Depay made his first start of the tournament as Van Gaal went on the attack rather than play for the draw.
But he was outshone by Gakpo, who scored his third of the tournament with a goal coming in all three group games.
The PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder will be hot property in the January transfer window, especially as his three goals have been a header, a leftfoot finish and a right-foot strike here.
De Jong netted the second after the break from close range after Barcelona teammate Depay had a shot saved.
There was one blemish for
Only the most optimistic of Qatari supporters envisaged anything other than a Netherlands victory. But if this riveting World Cup has taught us anything, it is that we should not take any outcome for granted. The longer this game remained 0-0, the more likely a few of the Dutch players would have experienced uninvited thoughts about the prospect of joining Argentina and Germany on an unenviable list of illustrious football nations beaten by opponents in Qatar. Gakpo struck in time to ensure that Netherlands stayed on course.
KEY STAT Cody Gakpo is only the fourth Netherlands player to score in three consecutive World Cup matches following Wesley Sneijder (2010) Dennis Bergkamp (1994) and Johan Neeskens (1974).
Gakpo, whose handball in the build-up meant a third goal for the Dutch was chalked off.
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez, said, “We have played against a great team. We hung on against them until 1-0. We are out but it was a great experience for my players.”
Van Gaal’s men had their third goal disallowed when De Jong’s flick was handled by Gakpo in the build up, after which substitute Steven Berghuis was given an easy finish in on Barsham’s goal but Gambian referee Bakary Gassama disallowed it after a VAR review.
Abdulaziz Hatem - one of the livelier Qatari players - threatened from range late on with a well struck shot but Noppert gathered with relative ease, the Dutch keeper later again called upon to stop Homam Al Amin in his tracks.
The Oranje closed the game out on the front foot again, missing a few chances, the biggest of which saw Berghuis smash the ball against the post after beating off several defenders.