‘Qatarstrophic’ start as Senegal lose to Netherlands

African champions, Senegal lost to Netherlands after two late goals from Gakpo and substitute Klaassen.

Netherlands came into the game with haven’t lost a match in 2022, with Senegal reigning as African Champions.

The second half followed a much similar pattern, with the Dutch in the ascendancy, while Senegal looked dangerous on the break. Having played a key role in denying Sarr towards the end of the first half, Van Dijk showed his attacking prowess early in the second, thundering a header goalwards that flew narrowly over the bar.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the match, the best chance of the game arguably fell the way of Senegal, but as Boulaye Dia wriggled a yard in the box, he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Senegal’s resistance was proving difficult for the Netherlands to break down, and it was the Lions of Teranga who initially looked likely to score a late winner, but some impressive goalkeeping from debutant Andries Noppert was enough to rebuff the advances of Idrissa Gueye. Just as the game was heading for a draw, the Dutch prodigy Gakpo stepped forward to head home De Jong’s enticing delivery.

Davy Klaassen then added a second deep into stoppage time to wrap up all three points for the Netherlands in what was their first game at a World
Cup since 2014.