ORANJE SEE OFF LIONS OF TERANGA

The Netherlands seized the advantage in World Cup Group A as goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen sealed a 2-0 win over African champions Senegal.

The Lions of Teranga are missing their talisman, Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane, at this tournament and though they battled hard, could not find a way past the debutant Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert.

The win puts the Oranje, three times World Cup finalists, in a strong position in the group, with matches against Ecuador and hosts Qatar to come.

A disappointing match at Al Thumama Stadium was played in front of plenty of empty seats, despite organisers’ claims that the country is gripped by World Cup fever.

However, the attendance was given as 41,721

– more than the stadium is actually listed to hold.

Watford forward Ismaila Sarr had Senegal’s two most presentable chances either side of Frenkie de Jong fluffing his lines.

Senegal pressed high and forced an error from Noppert and the ball eventually broke to Sarr, who curled over.

Sarr then cut inside Denzel Dumfries to find space to shoot on the edge of the box.

This time his effort was goalbound but Virgil Van Dijk was able to head it over.

Van Dijk headed over from a Gakpo corner seven minutes into the second period but the goal the Dutch craved arrived with six minutes of normal time to go.

De Jong swung in a ball from the left and Gakpo beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to it to head home.

The Dutch sealed victory in the final seconds when Mendy spilled a shot from Memphis Depay and substitute Klaassen followed up to slot home the rebound.