The Netherlands struck late in the second half to secure a 2-0 win over African champions Senegal in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener on Monday evening.
2022 FIFA World Cup
Result: Senegal 0-2 Netherlands
Date: 21 November 2022
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium
The Lions of Teranga were without talisman Sadio Mane, who will miss the whole tournament as Krepin Diatta and Boulaye Dia join Ismaila Sarr in the front three.
Vincent Janssen, Steven Bergwijn and Cody Gakpo led the attack for the Dutch, while Virgil van Dijk captained the side on his 50th international appearance and firs at the World Cup.
The game got off to a lively start, with Gakpo causing problems in the final third after creating a chance on five minutes before Sarr tried his luck with a strike from the edge of the box.
The Dutch should have opened the scoring on 18 minutes when a swift counter attack ended with Janssen picking out Frenkie de Jong, who took one touch too many before Ghana were able to clear.
Louis Van Gaal's men shade the possession statistics, but were unable to carve out any serious openings for the remainder of the half, with Gakpo going closest with a header that deflected wide.
The second half continued in similar fashion to the first, as Van Dijk should have put the Dutch ahead eight minutes after break with a towering header that sailed over the crossbar.
Senegal had their first real chance just after the hour mark when Nampalys Mendy surged forward before playing in Dia, who saw his first-time strike turned away goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
The African champions were dealt a blow with 20 minutes left on the clock as star midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté was forced off with an injury and replaced by Pape Gueye.
With seven minutes to play, the Netherlands got the breakthrough as De Jong's cross found Gakpo, who headed past the on-rushing Édouard Mendy which was also their first shot on target in the game.
Second-half substitute Davy Klaasen made the result safe in the eighth minute of time added on with a close-range finish after Memphis Depay had his initial strike saved, as the Dutch make a winning return to the World Cup.
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