AL KHOR: Cody Gakpo scored once more because the Netherlands booked their position within the International Cup closing 16 as staff winners with an easy 2-0 victory over hosts Qatar on Tuesday. The Netherlands, desiring only a level to make sure of progressing, put one foot within the subsequent spherical within the first 30 minutes as Gakpo scored for a 3rd directly staff sport. Frenkie de Jong added any other within the forty ninth minute because the Dutch cruised via in a flat setting on the Al Bayt Stadium.
Qatar, already eradicated ahead of kick-off, suffered the ignominy of turning into the primary house crew in International Cup historical past to complete the crowd degree with out a level. Louis van Gaal’s Dutch aspect ended with seven issues on the most sensible of Team A, whilst Senegal joined them within the knockout segment as runners-up after beating Ecuador 2-1. The Oranje will subsequent take at the second-placed crew from Team B for a quarter-final spot on the Khalifa Global Stadium on Saturday.
England these days most sensible that segment and face Wales afterward Tuesday, whilst america play Iran. All 4 groups are nonetheless looking for qualification. The Dutch have made a cast get started as they appear to position the disgruntlement of failing to qualify for the 2018 International Cup in Russia firmly at the back of them. Qatar signed off from their long-awaited house International Cup with a whimper, securing their position within the report books because the worst ever hosts at the pitch.
Van Gaal used to be in a position to provide Memphis Depay his first get started of the event because the Barcelona superstar persevered his go back to complete health after a hamstring harm. It didn’t take the Dutch lengthy to slice during the Qatar defence, despite the fact that Daley Blind may most effective scuff a fourth-minute strive directly at goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham. The hole purpose arrived within the twenty sixth minute as Davy Klaassen performed in Gakpo after a neat transfer additionally involving Depay.
The PSV Eindhoven winger drove ahead and drilled a low strike into the ground nook from the threshold of the field to attain his 3rd purpose of the event. The 3-time International Cup runners-up took benefit of shoddy Qatar protecting to double their benefit 4 mins after the destroy. Depay used to be denied from shut vary by way of Barsham however De Jong reacted faster than a ponderous Pedro Miguel to poke the ball house from slightly a backyard out.
Replace Steven Berghuis concept he had added a 3rd halfway via the second one part, just for his purpose to be dominated out after a VAR test for a handball by way of Gakpo within the build-up. There used to be temporary pleasure for the rest house supporters overdue on when Mohammed Muntari prodded the ball into the web, however the whistle had lengthy since long past for a bad on Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands nearly piled extra distress onto Qatar in stoppage time when Berghuis’ superb curling strike from vary hit the crossbar.- AFP