Staff Reporter.
@Euro2020.
Netherlands earned their first win in a European Championship since 2008 and their first victory in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup by beating Ukraine 3-2 in Sunday’s exhilarating Euro 2020 group-stage game in Amsterdam.
Denzel Dumfries scored an 85th-minute winner to earn his side all three points. Dumfries, who was earlier at the centre of Netherlands’ first two goals, rose to meet a Nathan Ake cross, somehow directing a relatively tame header past Ukraine goalkeeper Georgiy Buschan to secure the hosts all three points.
The two teams exchanged chances in an end-to-end opening period, one in which Bushchan made several spectacular saves. None, however, rivaled the reaction stop he made on Georginio Wijnaldum’s 38th-minute effort, in which the keeper reflexively stuck out a hand to keep the ball out of his net while diving in the opposite direction.
But of those chances, the Dutch possessed the majority of them. Frank de Boer’s team had more expected goals in the first 45 minutes (1.31) than any other team in a first half so far this tournament.
Netherlands found their breakthrough seven minutes into the second half, though. Buschan rushed to the penalty spot to intercept a dangerous cross from Dumfries on the right wing, but could only parry the ball into the path of the onrushing Wijnaldum, who fired high into the corner from the top of the box.
The hosts doubled their advantage six minutes later. Another marauding run forward from Dumfries ended with the wing-back’s shot blocked by a pair of Ukrainian defenders, only for the ball to fall for VFL Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst, who finished with authority to give the Dutch the comfortable lead their play deserved.
Ukraine would not go away quietly, though. Fifteen minutes from time, Anriy Yarmolenko scored a jaw-dropping curling effort from distance (his 40th goal for his country) to halve his side’s deficit.
And four minutes later the visitors were level. Roman Yaremuck got his head on a 79th-minute free kick, directing the ball into Maarten Stekelenburg’s net to put Ukraine on level footing as full-time approached.
But the game would ultimately be decided by Dumfries, securing the hosts all three points five minutes from time.
“I am a proud captain, because we have won this match,” Wijnaldum said after the match. “We gave away two chances, which turned into two goals. I think everybody was angry and disappointed, especially after the second goal of Ukraine.
“It was a great night for Denzel Dumfries. Very nice for him to head home the decisive goal.”
Ukraine will take on North Macedonia on Thursday while Netherlands will face Austria later that day.
Meanwhile Austria earned their first ever victory at a European Championship as Franco Foda’s side edged past tournament debutants North Macedonia in their Group C opener.