Netherlands beats Tunisia to top group, advancing to World Cup knockout against Morocco
The Dutch national team made it two wins out of three in the FIFA World Cup thus far in the early hours on Friday with a 3-1 win over Tunisia in Kansas City, U.S.. Oranje topped their group after Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in the other match. They will now face Morocco in the last 16 in Mexico.
Koeman decided to take no risks with Crysencio Summerville and Mickey van de Ven. Both players were booked against Japan and would be suspended for the last 16 game if they were to get booked. Nathan Ake took Van de Ven’s place at left back, and Donyell Malen came into the side for Summerville.
Tunisia, who were playing for pride only after losing their first two games by a combined score of 9-1, created the first chance shortly after kick-off. The African side broke through the Dutch left flank, but Ismael Gharbi’s shot went just over the goal.
And this proved costly as Oranje took the lead in the third minute. Denzel Dumfries got another assist in Dutch colors, crossing the ball for Ellyes Shkiri to put into his own net before Brian Brobbey was able to convert the chance.
Tunisia had sacked their manager, Sabri Lamouchi, after their first game, but his replacement, Herve Renard, seemed to have had very little effect as Oranje doubled their lead in the eighth minute. A free kick was headed across by the team captain, Virgil van Dijk, to Brian Brobbey, who scored to make it three goals in two games at the tournament.
It was the quickest 2-0 lead for a Dutch national side since 1971 against Luxembourg. It was also Van Dijk’s first assist for Oranje and made Brobbey just the third player since records began in 1966 to score with each of his three first-ever shots at the World Cup, according to Opta.
Tunisia improved after their dreadful start, creating another chance in the 13th minute. Anis Ben Slimane had an opportunity to head an effort at goal, but his effort was straight at Oranje keeper Bart Verbruggen. After this, Renard’s side did a much better job defensively, resulting in a 2-0 lead for Oranje at halftime.
Tunisia got a goal back in the 54th minute. A corner taken by Hannibal Mejbri was headed hard into the far corner by the Tunisian striker Hazem Mestouri.
Another goal from a corner fell eight minutes later, but this one was in Oranje’s favor. Tijjani Reijnders swung a corner into the box, and it was met by Jan Paul van Hecke, whose header was deflected in off the head of a Tunisian defender. It is Van Hecke’s first goal for Oranje.
Reijnders almost followed his assist with a goal in the 67th minute when goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen punched a ball out to the edge of the area to the Manchester City midfielder, but his curled effort towards goal hit the crossbar.
Oranje will now face Morocco in Monterrey in the next round. The Moroccans finished second in group E, winning two out of their three games. They started their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Brazil before beating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2.
Sweden and Japan drew 1-1 in the other game of this group. Japan will now face Brazil in the next round, with Sweden likely facing France.
