Netherlands vs. Belgium: Score and Twitter Reaction for 2016 Friendly
The Netherlands and Belgium played out a 1-1 draw in the 126th Low Countries derby on Wednesday, with the two teams meeting for an international friendly in Amsterdam.
The Red Devils were the better team before half-time but gifted the Oranje a penalty, which Davy Klaassen converted beautifully. Yannick Carrasco equalised for the visitors after the break, and a late push from Belgium resulted in plenty of chances but no more goals.
The Oranje still haven't beaten Belgium since 1997, a stretch of seven matches.
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As Kristof Terreur of HLN shared, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez experimented with his squad and left Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku on the bench with an eye on Sunday's clash with Estonia:
In-form Jeremain Lens got the chance to start for the hosts:
Vincent Kompany was supposed to start, but Christian Kabasele replaced him at the last second.
Belgium started the match on the front foot, pushing up the pitch early and searching for Dries Mertens, who lined up as the main central forward. The hosts soon took control of possession, however, passing the ball around in midfield.
Vincent Janssen proved to be a nuisance early, pulling Kabasele and Laurent Ciman out of position with his movement. Belgium answered with counter-attacks, led by Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.
Hazard threatened for the first time with a cross that turned into a shot as the Red Devils pressed down the wings. On the other side of the pitch, Jan Vertonghen and Ciman almost gifted Janssen a goal, with Simon Mignolet hitting Janssen as he tried to defend his goal.
The Liverpool stopper smashed into Janssen again minutes later, with the Tottenham Hotspur man not holding back. Janssen needed some treatment, and there was more bad news for the Dutch, per Football-Oranje.com:
"Early change and its Schaars who is going off injured. Clasie on. Big shame for the Heerenveen man.
— Football-Oranje.com (@football_oranje) November 9, 2016"
Play went up and down quickly, but chances were few early. Carrasco and De Bruyne both failed to pick out Mertens with crosses, and Georginio Wijnaldum put Mignolet to work.
Belgium improved as the half wore on, with Janssen finding himself increasingly isolated. The Spurs man went down after 23 minutes and had to be replaced, with Bas Dost coming on. Per Sport Witness, it looked as though he was still struggling from the collision with Mignolet:
The Red Devils kept pushing, and Mertens came close to opening the score after a great cross from De Bruyne, just missing the target with a header. The Manchester City man tried his luck with a free-kick, dropping the ball over the bar.
The Netherlands barely threatened Mignolet but earned a shock penalty with less than 10 minutes left to play in the half as Vertonghen pulled Lens' shirt, and the forward gladly accepted the gift. Klaassen sent Mignolet the wrong way, giving the hosts the lead.
Belgian football expert John Chapman thought the Oranje had been second-best until that point:
Belgium regained control of the ball but didn't find many gaps in the Dutch defence, and the Netherlands grew more confident in midfield, matching the Belgian physicality. Paris Saint-Germain star Thomas Meunier suffered a knock in injury time, effectively ending the half.
Meunier stayed in the dressing room to start the second half, with Thomas Foket entering the fray.
The Netherlands were more positive to start the second half, and Mignolet had to be alert to intercept a through ball aimed at Dost. Axel Witsel tried to curl a shot past Maarten Stekelenburg, but it lacked the power to trouble the stopper.
Carrasco produced a fine dribble but couldn't find a team-mate with his cross, and the Atletico Madrid man was furious when he was taken out inside the box and the official awarded a free-kick instead. De Bruyne saw the resulting free-kick saved by Stekelenburg.
Lukaku replaced the ineffective Mertens with 30 minutes left to play, and Thorgan Hazard came on for De Bruyne. The Red Devils dominated possession, pushing the hosts back, and on a rare counter, Lens pulled up limping.
Joshua Brenet missed a great opportunity to double the lead, going on a fantastic rush past three defenders before firing wide. Football-Oranje.com knew that was close:
"Brenet with a brilliant run forward but his shot at the end is just wide. So close to 2-0!
— Football-Oranje.com (@football_oranje) November 9, 2016"
On the other side of the pitch, Lukaku used his strength to fashion a chance, but his shot flew just wide. The Everton man missed an open goal from a few feet out on the resulting corner, connecting with Hazard's cross with his chin.
Ciman had the ball in the net but was flagged down for offside, with chances suddenly coming fast. It was Carrasco who finally unlocked the defence, beating Stekelenburg with a shot that took a massive deflection.
Belgium went looking for a winner, and Lukaku missed another chance from close range, pushing the ball over with his thigh. Hazard also went close after a wonderful attacking move, but Stekelenburg made the save.
The Netherlands maintained some late possession, shutting down Belgium's attack, and both teams seemed content with the draw.
Witsel didn't seem too disappointed after the match:
Belgium will host Estonia on Sunday, while the Netherlands will travel to Luxembourg.
