BY Jonathan Ledger
The Netherlands scored an 85th-minute winner through Denzel Dumfries to overcome a stubborn Ukraine side 3-2 at the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday.
The Oranje, appearing in a major tournament following a seven-year absence, had squandered a two-goal lead against the hard-fighting East Europeans before Dumfries scored the match-winner.
The entertaining Group C encounter saw all five goals scored in the second half.
Giorgino Wijnaldum, recently signed by Paris Saint-Germain, gave Frank de Boer’s men the lead on 52 minutes, smashing an unstoppable drive past Georgiy Bushchan, the Ukraine goalkeeper, who was an impenetrable wall in an entertaining first half.
Dumfries then turned provider when a high press saw him inadvertently pass the ball towards Wout Weghorst and the VFL Wolfsburg striker smashed another unstoppable one-time shot to double the Dutch’s lead.
It would take a goal of the tournament contender from Andriy Yamolenko to half the deficit with a curling shot into the top corner from the edge of the area on 75 minutes. Roman Yaremchuk equalised four minutes later through a header from a deep free-kick.
The Netherlands would however seal the win in dramatic fashion six minutes later through Dumfries, the 25-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker.
The Netherlands will next play Austria, who earned a first-ever Euros win with a 3-1 victory over North Macedonia.
In an earlier game, England earned a 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley Stadium thanks to Raheem Sterling’s 57th minute strike. The Manchester City winger slotted home Kalvin Philips’ pass following a mazy run from the Leeds United playmaker.
RESULTS
England 1-0 Croatia
Austria 3-1 North Macedonia
Netherlands 3-2 Ukraine
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