After missing the 2018 World Cup, Netherlands got its Qatar campaign off to the perfect start by outlasting Senegal in a 2–0 victory
Despite losing Sadio Mané for the entire tournament due to injury, Senegal appeared to have the edge in much of the match, holding the Dutch to without a shot on goal for 80-plus minutes. But the Oranje were clinical, scoring on its first shot on target in the 84th minute thanks to a header from reigning Dutch Footballer of the Year Cody Gakpo before Davy Klaassen added a second in the 99th minute.
For the Dutch, the win was their 16th straight victory, and it puts them in excellent position to top the group with Ecuador and Qatar up next. But it wasn’t easy, and the Netherlands took a bend-but-don’t-break approach against Senegal’s attack.
