Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GAK OF THE NET
Dutch off to a flier but it’s a night to forget for Chelsea’s calamity keeper
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LOUIS VAN GAAL felt victory was never in doubt – but Holland left it late.
The veteran Dutch boss emerged satisfied with the Oranje after two goals in the final six minutes beat the reigning African champions – and embarrassed Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.
Midfielder Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock six minutes from time – beating Mendy to Frenkie de Jong’s cross.
And then Davy Klaassen added a second in the dying moments (below), after Mendy could only parry substitute Memphis Depay’s shot into his path.
Despite Mendy being at fault for both goals, Senegal coach Aliou Cisse refused to blame his keeper, preferring to take responsibility for the defeat himself.
Van Gaal was content with his side’s win and said:
“Was it an efficient victory? Of course it was. We played with poor ball possession in the first half but nonetheless created five chances. It was more balanced in the second half. We created one chance and scored twice and, to be honest, I was calm.
“I always had the feeling we would score. So it was well deserved, although we were shoddy in possession.”
The Dutch were one of nine teams to suffer FIFA’S clampdown on wearing the ‘One Love’ armband. And Van Gaal added: “We’re not going to wear it if Virgil van Dijk is going to get a yellow card. We’re here to be world champions. That’s our purpose.
“All of us need to ask if this is a proper action by FIFA.”
Depay, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, livened up proceedings from the bench.
With just six minutes remaining on the clock, he was involved in a triangle of passes that ended with
De Jong swinging over a cross from the left.
Gakpo gambled and made a run that went untracked. Mendy came but failed to reach the ball first and it was nodded into the net by the PSV Eindhoven midfielder.
As the game entered its final seconds, Depay found himself in a one-on-one duel with Kalidou Koulibaly. He fired off a shot from the edge of the area that Mendy could only parry, and Klaassen sealed victory with almost the last kick of the game.
Senegal coach Cisse said of his keeper: “I haven’t seen what happened. I know Gapko headed it, but I don’t know if Edouard made a mistake or not.
“The coach is responsible for any defeat – perhaps I’m the one to blame. We had two or three really good chances to score. But we did create chances, so will take encouragement from that.
“We had a definite plan to press them high, but eventually we tired. We’re disappointed not to score.
“Sadio Mane being missing is a problem, but the players who came in did what was expected.
“If you lose the first match, the second becomes like a final. That will be vital to us.”