- In the World Cup Group A football match, Netherlands defeated Senegal by 2-0.
- The result leaves the Netherlands top of the group alongside Ecuador, who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 in their tournament opener.
- The Dutch team was captained by Virgil van Dijk, who was making his debut in a major international tournament.
Doha: Late goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaasen saw the Netherlands beat African champions Senegal 2-0 on Monday as they returned to the World Cup stage.
Senegal’s injured star man Sadio Mane and without their main attacker Memphis Depay at kick-off due to the Dutch missing, the Group A clash in Doha looked set to end in a goalless draw.
But with just six minutes remaining, PSV Eindhoven forward Gekpo headed in a floating Frankie de Jong cross from the left in front of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Substitute Klaasen then grabbed the winner in injury time, scoring after Mendy saved from Depay, who also came off the bench.
The result leaves the Netherlands top of the group with Ecuador, who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 in their tournament opener on Sunday.
Louis van Gaal’s side play Ecuador on Friday, while Senegal now face a must-win against Qatar.
Senegal saw Bayern Munich superstar Mane – who finished second in this year’s Ballon d’Or – drop out of the squad with a leg injury on the eve of the tournament.
His absence was clearly felt as the match at the El Thoma Stadium – played to a backdrop of non-stop drumming and dancing from the Senegalese support, but also in front of plenty of empty seats – Never lived up to its billing.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana came closest to scoring for Senegal with a strike on the half-volley from the edge of the box that was beaten by Netherlands goalkeeper Andres Neupert in the 73rd minute.
Neupert, the giant Heerenwein goalkeeper making his international debut, also scored in the second half and produced a superb save from Pape Goey as the Netherlands played their first World Cup game in eight years.
The three-time runners-up were semi-finalists under Van Gaal in Brazil in 2014 and failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Russia in 2018.
The Dutch team was captained by Virgil van Dijk, who was making his debut in a major international tournament on the occasion of his 50th cap.
With Matthijs de Ligt and Nathan Ake alongside him, they were mostly comfortable at the back but Barcelona forward Depay – who scored 12 times in qualifying – made little headway before coming forward for the final half-hour.
With Depay unable to start after two months on the sidelines, it fell to former Tottenham Hotspur striker Vincent Johnson to spearhead Holland’s attack but he failed to make a big impact.
Yet Gekpo finally broke the deadlock and, as Senegal pushed for an equaliser, Depay played a part in Ajax midfielder Klaasen’s goal to seal the points in the ninth extra minute.