African champions Senegal lost all three points in a bitter 2-0 loss to European giants Netherlands in a Group A showdown at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
With the absence of star forward Sadio Mane due to injury, the Teranga Lions were unable to find the back of the net as the Dutch side sealed victory courtesy of two late goals from Coady Gakpo and Daavy Klaassen in the final 10 minutes at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Aliou Cisse’s men were left to rue their missed chances, as they lacked the final touch to convert in front of goal.
Coady Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 84th minute after a brilliant interplay down the Dutch left side. The PSV forward who is of Togolese descent leapt highest to pounce on Frenkie De Jong’s cross.
Senegal’s best chance of the game came in the 73rd minute after good work down the left flank by Watford talisman Ismaila Sarr to tee up Everton’s Idrissa Gueye but the latter’s attempt on target was thwarted by goalkeeper Andries Noppert who was making his debut for Louis Van Gaal’s side.
Noppert was called to action again in the 86th minute, saving a low drive from Pape Gueye to keep the Dutch outfit in the lead.
The 28-year-old shot-stopper was in unbelievable form, with four important saves and a clean sheet.
Super-sub Davy Klaassen, who came on later in the game for Ajax teammate Steven Berwijn, put the tie to bed in injury time after slotting calmly into the left corner off a rebound from a Memphis Depay’s shot.
The Ajax midfielder who was on the pitch for just twenty minutes was the quickest to react to a poor save by Senegalese goalkeeper Benjamin Mendy.
After the defeat, Senegal will turn their attention to Friday when they battle host nation Qatar at the Al Thumama Stadium.
It promises to be a nail-biting encounter as both sides would be looking to take all available points to get their campaign underway.
In the other game of the group, Netherlands and Ecuador will battle it out in a top-of-the-table clash at the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday.
