Qatar 2022: Netherlands, Senegal advance to last 16 with crucial wins
Netherlands eased into the last 16 of the World Cup as they clinched top spot in Group A with a 2-0 win over Qatar, while Senegal beat Ecuador to take second spot.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for Netherlands for the third consecutive game midway through the first half, before Frenkie De Jong net his first World Cup goal shortly after half-time.
There was no doubt who had been the star of the tournament for the Netherlands so far, and Gakpo struck again on 26 minutes to give his side the lead.
In the opener against Senegal he had scored with his head, against Ecuador he netted with his left, and against Qatar he completed his perfect hat-trick with a right-footed drive from just inside the area.
After 49 minutes it was two. Davy Klaassen’s cross came off a defender’s head and found Memphis Depay at the far post. His effort from close range was saved, but it fell kindly for De Jong to prod into an empty net from just a few yards.
Netherlands thought they had a third on 68 minutes as Steven Berghuis tapped hom from close range just a few minutes after coming on as a substitute, but VAR ruled the goal out for a handball by Gakpo in the buildup.
But it didn’t cost them, as they prepare to turn their eyes to the evening’s Group B games to find out who their opponents in the last 16 will be.
As a result, Qatar become the first hosts in World Cup history to fail to pick up a win or even a point.
Kalidou Koulibaly proved an unlikely matchwinner as Senegal reached the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador, who are out of the tournament.
The Chelsea defender’s superb volleyed winner came only two minutes after Moises Caicedo had pulled Ecuador level from a corner, a result which would have taken the South Americans through in their place.
The African side fully deserved to qualify from their World Cup group for the first time in 20 years, largely in part to a first-half performance where they blew away Ecuador, who came into the match knowing they only needed a point to progress.
It took until the final minute of the opening period for Senegal’s dominance to count, when Ismaila Sarr was fouled in the area before confidently beating Hernan Galindez from 12 yards.
Though Caicedo briefly gave Ecuador hope midway through the second period it was a brief respite with Senegal still the more dangerous side even after Koulibaly’s goal, and Edouard Mendy’s goal was relatively untroubled.
Netherlands head into the last 16 as Group A winners, where they will face USA (Group B runner ups) as Senegal take on England(Group B winners).
