Netherlands draw with Ecuador ahead of World Cup, Sweden joins their group

The Netherlands could not secure a victory in their friendly against Ecuador, with Ronald Koeman’s side settling for a 1-1 draw at the Philips Stadium. The team spent a large portion of the game a man down after Denzel Dumfries was shown a red card.

The friendly started with energy at a partially filled Philips Stadium. The Netherlands went ahead in the third minute when Willian Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain inadvertently turned Cody Gakpo’s cross into his own net (1-0). The match remained open, with goalkeeper Mark Flekken pulling off a reflex save to deny John Yeboah, while Donyell Malen nearly doubled the lead.

Twelve minutes in, Dumfries’s error dampened the excitement of the friendly. The right-back mistimed a challenge and brought down the surging Gonzalo Plata, earning a red card from German referee Sascha Stegemann.

Koeman reacted quickly, substituting defender Lutsharel Geertruida for striker Malen. The Netherlands retreated, leaving Ecuador in control of the ball. Ecuadorian fans chanted “Olé, olé” as their team circulated possession. Their celebration intensified in the 24th minute when Flekken fouled Plata, and Enner Valencia calmly scored from the penalty spot to level the match at 1-1.

True to his plan, Koeman took the chance to test many players ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His starting lineup featured Mark Flekken, Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Aké, Jerdy Schouten, Quinten Timber, Xavi Simons, and Brian Brobbey, seven changes from the Norway match. Only Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Dumfries, and Malen retained their starting spots. Koeman made full use of the allowed eight substitutions.

Ecuador’s stars, Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain, Pervis Estupiñán of AC Milan, and Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo, could not tip the second half in their team’s favor, as the Netherlands lined up with five defenders. Jeremie Frimpong and Micky van de Ven replaced Gakpo and Van Dijk, though Frimpong had to leave the field after just fifteen minutes. Ecuador goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle was stretchered off after a clash with Brobbey, who later squandered a chance to put the Netherlands ahead 2-1.

The Netherlands found out the last opponent in their group for the World Cup this summer. Sweden defeated Poland with a late winning goal in Stockholm to book their spot in the group alongside the Dutch side, Japan, and Tunisia.