DOHA – Netherlands defeated African champions Senegal 2-0 on Monday in their return to the World Cup stage thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen.
At kickoff, both the injured Sadio Mane of Senegal and Memphis Depay of the Netherlands made it appear as though the Group A match in Doha would end in a scoreless draw.
However, with only six minutes left, PSV Eindhoven forward Gakpo sprang in front of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to head in a floated cross from the left by Frenkie de Jong.
Deep into injury time, after Mendy had stopped Depay, another substitute player, from scoring, Klaassen came on to seal the victory.
As a result, the Netherlands and Ecuador, who defeated the hosts Qatar 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday, are tied atop in the group.
While Senegal now has a game against Qatar that they must win, Louis van Gaal’s team plays Ecuador on Friday.
