Wout Weghorst scores a late winner as Netherlands record a 2-1 win over Poland at the Volksparkstadion at Euro 2024.
Wout Weghorst scores a late decisive goal for Netherlands at a major tournament yet again as Oranje record a 2-1 win over Poland at Euro 2024.
The 31-year-old famously scored an 101st-minute leveller against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, only for his side to lose out in a penalty shootout.
On this occasion, Weghorst marked his entrance from the substitutes’ bench to seal a deserved win for Ronald Koeman‘s side, who were almost made to pay for wasted chances.
Adam Buksa had initially handed Poland the lead against the run of play before Cody Gakpo pulled Netherlands level before the half-hour mark.
Ahead of France squaring off against Austria on Monday, Netherlands take early control of Group D, with Poland left up against it to salvage a spot in the last 16.
Netherlands fail to make chances count
The notable team news for Poland was Adam Buksa getting the nod in attack with Robert Lewandowski out with a minor groin issue, while Ronald Koeman opted to go with a four-player Netherlands defence, rather than the back three that he has deployed on occasions.
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Oranje could have taken the lead twice during the first 10 minutes. Cody Gakpo was first denied by a smart stop by Wojciech Szczesny, before Tijjani Reijnders sent a first-time effort wide of the target from just 10 yards out.
However, it was Buksa who put Poland in front shortly after the quarter-hour mark. An inswinging corner found the towering forward, who superbly glanced a header inside the far post.
Netherlands responded by continuing to squander chances. Virgil van Dijk was unfortunate, seeing a volley superbly kept out by Szczesny, but Memphis Depay should have at least hit the target rather than blaze over from inside the penalty area.
Their deserved equaliser arrived just before the half hour. Gakpo’s effort from 20 yards would have been comfortably dealt with by Szczesny, only for the ball to deflect heavily off Jan Bednarek and find the centre of the goal.
You need a bit of luck sometimes…
Cody Gakpo in the right place at the right time for the Netherlands. #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #POLNED pic.twitter.com/WFHZtaq914
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 16, 2024
Gakpo and Depay wasted further chances in the minutes before the half-time whistle, both sending their respective efforts off target, as Poland somehow remained on level terms when seeing Netherlands have 14 shots compared to their four.
More of the same from Netherlands…
The chances for Netherlands continued to go begging after the break with Depay and Gakpo combining to tee up Xavi Simons, who miscued his effort from 12 yards wide of the near post.
By the 55-minute mark, Poland head coach Michal Probierz had made three changes – a sign of his concern – and it almost paid off as Buksa was only denied a second goal through a sharp block by goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Koeman made alterations of his own, one of them being Donyell Malen, and the forward’s quick feet on the edge of the area teed up Denzel Dumfries, who flashed a strike narrowly wide of the far post.
While the openings were not been created with the same regularity as in the first half, Netherlands should have gone ahead when Stefan de Vrij was presented with a free header inside the area, only to send it sailing over the crossbar.
A different approach was taken with 10 minutes remaining, Koeman hoping that the extra height of Weghorst would influence proceedings, but it was the compose of the frontman that got him on the scoresheet.
Nathan Ake bided his time before threading a pass inside to the former Manchester United man, who swept the ball home inside the near post from 10 yards out.
More to follow.
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