NETHERLANDS continued their incredible unbeaten run under Louis Van Gaal with a gruelling 1-0 win over local rivals Belgium.
Virgil Van Dijk’s back-post header was enough to seal all three points for the hosts – securing a Nations League finals spot for next year.
But things could have been different had substitute Dodi Lukebakio’s last-gasp spectacular bicycle kick flew in during stoppage time.
- RESULT: Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
- Live stream: premiersports.com
- TV channel: Premier Sports 1
- Netherlands XI: Pasveer,; Timber, Van Djik, Ake; Dumfries, Blind, Berghuis, de Roon; Klaassen; Bergwijn, Janssen
- Belgium XI: Courtois; Debast, Alderweirald, Vertonghen; Castagne, Meunier, Onana, Witsel; De Bruyne, Hazard; Batshuayi
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That’s all from Amsterdam
The Netherlands march on to the finals after securing a famous 1-0 victory on derby day.
Belgium’s uphill task proved too much against a well-drilled Van Gaal side.
Thank you for reading this match-blog and have a good evening.
Former Netherlands player Robin van Persie soaked up the applause at the end of the game.Credit: EPA So close to glory
Lukebakioko came so close to what would have been the goal of the tournament.
Deep into stoppage time, the substitute attempted a bicycle kick which thundered against the upright, leaving viewers stunned. What an effort.
Credit: Getty Scores on the doors
Elsewhere tonight…
- Austria 1-3 Croatia
- Denmark 2-0 France
- Wales 0-1 Poland
Croatia finish top of Group 1 and join the Netherlands in the finals.
Watch Van Djik head home
The Liverpool defender rose highest to break the deadlock in the 72nd minute.
Full time – Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
Anthony Taylor blows his whistle and the Johan Cruyff arena erupts.
Van Gaal’s near perfect run comes to an end in fitting fashion, with a win over their noisy neighbours. The hosts came here with a game plan and executed it to perfection, suffocating Belgium for large periods of the game and taking their opportunity when it came.
Van Djik’s sucker-punch header was the difference in the end. Roberto Martinez’s side had their moments, but struggled to gain any real momentum.
An assured Dutch side march on to the finals!
.Credit: Getty Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
90+4, Lukebakio hits the post from a bicycle kick!
That was centimetres away from pure genius. The forward got up brilliantly to meet De Bruyne’s ball in, thumping his over-head kick against the post. The keeper was rooted to the spot.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
90+3, The hosts are still attacking and the fans inside the Johan Cruyff arena are singing loyder than ever. They are very close.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
89, Gakpo makes a brilliant run and plays a pass towards Klassen who had an open goal. Courtois read his intention well, palming it away from danger.
Tielemans then clips his man and we are to have four added minutes here.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
87, Klassen should score. The midfielder takes the ball down nicely in the area and pokes one towards goal. But his effort is tame and relatively straightforward for Courtois.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
85, Lukebakio attempts to latch on to a pass but Pasveer is out quickly to smother the attack. He’s looked really sharp in goal this evening.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
83, Taylor is booked for a poor challenge on his man.
7 minutes plus stoppage time for the visitors to score five goals.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
81, Castagne is withdrawn and Lukebakio is thrown on for the remainder of this match.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
77, Dumfries goes into the referee’s book for a late challenge on his man.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
75, Bergwijn almost doubles their advantage!
He has time to measure a shot, but drags it narrowly wide of the post.
Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
74, Tielemans is on to replace Onana for the visitors.
GOAL! – Netherlands 1-0 Belgium
72, Gakpo curled in the corner and Van Djik leaped highest to score with a thumping header past Courtois, who had no chance!
It’s a long way back for Belgium now. The hosts can see the finish line.
.Credit: Getty Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
72, Taylor floats a dangerous ball into the area but it’s headed clear for a Netherlands corner. What can they make of it?
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
71, Bergwijn dances past a few challenges before letting fly. But it’s too central and Courtois keeps the scores level.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
67, Onana with the chance to break the deadlock!
The ball is floated into him and he digs out a shot on target but it doesn’t have the power on it. Pasveer can deal with it easily enough.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
65, Van Gaal uses the break in play to make a change himself, throwing on de Vrij for Timber who has looked solid at the back this evening.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
64, Hazard wins the free kick and that will be his last involvement. He hobbles off after picking up a knock in the challenge and Trossard is on.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
61, Hazard drives his team up-field and frees Carrasco down the left. The winger tries to make room for a shot, but it’s blocked by Dumfries.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
59, It just hasn’t quite clicked for De Bruyne today. He has got into great positions but struggled with the final pass. This time he can’t thread it through to the on-running De Ketelaere through a wall of orange shirts.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
57, De Ketelaere flashes a wicked ball across the six-yard box but Van Djik is there to intercept and lump it clear.
Netherlands 0-0 Belgium
53, Taylor takes the ball in his stride and fires one on goal. It’s blocked and out for a corner which Timber meets well, but can’t direct his header on target.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
