Netherlands 🇳🇱 vs Qatar 🇶🇦 match summary animation 2-0| highlights World Cup 2022
Goaltoon
Cody Gakpo enhanced his growing reputation after becoming the first Netherlands player to score in each of his first three World Cup matches in a 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar.
The 23-year-old forward entered the tournament as one of the hottest prospects in Europe, with a number of top clubs closely tracking his progress after nine goals and 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games for PSV Eindhoven this season, and his displays in the Middle East have only furthered his credentials.
His versatility across the front line has also been underlined by the nature of his goals, with his 26th-minute strike from the edge of the penalty area coming via his right foot having already scored with his left against Ecuador and his head versus Senegal.
Memphis Depay’s first start for any team since mid-September after a hamstring problem was a way of improving his match fitness against opposition who already knew they were exiting the tournament before the game kicked off after two uninspiring defeats.
The 28-year-old responded by starting the move which led to Gakpo’s opener and then inadvertently providing the assist for Frenkie De Jong’s goal just after half-time when his shot was parried by goalkeeper Meeshal Barsham.
Victory ensured Van Gaal’s side finished top of Group A with seven points, setting up a last-16 meeting with the runners-up from England’s group and extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches.
Having kept their opponents at bay for a quarter of the game Qatar were undone by a relatively straightforward move as Depay dropped deep to pick up the ball and play it into Gakpo, who backheeled to Davy Klaassen and carried the return pass 10 yards further forward before beating Barsham from just inside the penalty area.
There was little sign of Qatar providing a response and that diminished further four minutes after the interval when Depay was denied at point-blank range at the far post by Barsham from Klaassen’s cross and De Jong reacted quicker than the defence to force home the loose ball.
Qatar escaped with more slack defending when substitute Steven Berghuis’ goal was ruled out by VAR due to a Gakpo handball earlier in the move, with the Ajax star also hitting the crossbar in added time.
4:56PM
Full time: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Netherlands saunter to the top of the group with a run of the mill victory over the tournament’s weakest side. A well-taken goal from Gakpo was the only real highlight. The hosts depart pointless, the first hosts to go out without a solitary point for solace.
Netherlands will play the runners-up of Group B who, if (and that is doing a lot of lifting) England beat Wales, will be the winner of Iran vs USA. No, you jinxed England …
4:52PM
90+4 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Qatar cannot fault their keeper. Barsham comes to claim a cross solidly. There has been a gulf in quality manifest in every one of their group games that cannot be masked by organisation and heart.
4:50PM
90+2 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Berghuis opens his body under no pressure from the Qatar defence and spanks a left foot shot from the right of the D on to cross bar inches before it meets the right post.
4:49PM
90 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Six minutes of stoppage time have been signalled. This game could do with a coup de grace. Not so much a cakewalk as an inevitable victory.
88 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
The other Qatar player brought on was Alaaeldin.
Ally McCoist notes that all 10 subs have been brought on and not for the first time this tournament bemoans the expansion from three to five permitted changes. I agree wholeheartedly. It’s changing the fundamentals of the game. Get back to three max asap. This isn’t rugby.
4:44PM
85 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Weghorsts strays offside to trap Blind’s chip on his chest.
Hatem and Muhammad are going off. Kheddir and AN Other are coming on. Sorry, didn’t see.
Netherlands introduce Kenny Taylor and give De Jong a breather.
4:42PM
83 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Here come two Dutch changes, both players coming on have had minutes before. It’s the 6ft 6in Wout Weghorst and Teun Koopmeiners, taking the places of Gakpo and De Roon, I think.
4:40PM
81 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
It’s strange that Van Gaal hasn’t made his three other permissible changes. Xavi Simons and Noa Lang could do with a run.
4:38PM
78 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
Ismail Mohammad has been Qatar’s best player. He has plenty of speed but has been starved of service down the right. Muntari gets to the byline on the left but his cross is blocked.
4:35PM
76 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
At last a Qatari player lets fly from distance but Hatem scuffs his 25 yard effort as the defence melted away before him and all Noppert had to do was flop on top of it.
4:34PM
75 min: Netherlands 2 Qatar 0
As it stands, the winners of Group B would play Senegal and the runners-up Netherlands.