Senegal beat Ecuador 2-1 while the Netherlands defeated Qatar 2-0 without any resistance.
Holland 2-0 Qatar:
Frenkie de Jong and Cody Gakpo net in either half to send Louis van Gaal's side through to the World Cup last-16 as Group A winners.
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| Image: Cody Gakpo made it three goals in three group stage games as Holland defeated Qatar 2-0 |
Holland topped Group A as they beat Qatar 2-0 to advance into the last-16
Cody Gakpo continued his outstanding form with his third goal in the group.
PSV Eindhoven striker burst through the Qatar defence to find bottom corner while Frenkie de Jong tapped home the second from close range after the break.
Qatar never really threatened as they exited without registering a single point
Netherlands confirmed their passage into the Round of 16 after goals from Cody Gakpo and Frenkie De Jong secured a 2-0 win over hosts Qatar.
It was a routine victory for Louis Van Gaal's side, as they brushed the hosts aside with ease to qualify top of Group A with seven points.
Qatar exit the competition at the earliest possible stage with zero points, bottom of the group and with their tail firmly between their legs.
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino watched on as the World Cup hosts waved farewell to the tournament, with empty seats splattered around the Al Bayt Stadium.
And like most of the games in Qatar so far, this Group A encounter got off to a rather slow start, with neither team having any meaningful chances and no real flow being established during the opening twenty minutes.
But in the 26th minute, Louis Van Gaal's men found their way in front. A wonderful bit of intrinsic play from Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen allowed Gakpo a sighter on goal, and the 23-year-old made no mistake with the finish, blasting the ball past Qatar goalkeeper Barsham Meshaal into the bottom right corner for his third goal of the tournament.
Match facts and ratings:
Holland (3-4-1-2): Noppert 6; Timber 6, Van Dijk 6, Ake 6; Dunfries 6.5, De Roon 6 (Koopmeiners 82), De Jong 7.5 (Taylor 86), Blind 6; Klaassen 6.5 (Berghuis 66, 6.5); Gakpo 8 (Weghorst 82), Depay 7 (Janssen 66, 6.5)
Manager: Louis van Gaal
Scorers: Gakpo 26; De Jong 49 Booked: Ake
Qatar (5-3-2): Barsham 6.5; Ismail 5.5 (Khoder 85), Pedro 5, Khoukhi 5.5, Hassan 5, Homam 5; Al Haydos 5.5 (Assadalla 64), Madibo 5 (Boudiaf 64), Hatem 5.5 (Alaaeldin 85); Almoez 5 (Muntari 64), Afif 5
Manager: Felix Sanchez
Referee: Bakary Gassama 4.5
De Jong's goal killed off what remained of the Qatar threat, allowing Holland to coast home
That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of a valiant Qatar, who looked like a side who wanted to end a dismal group stage on a high. But the gulf in quality between the two sides was there for the world to see as the game ticked towards the half-time interval.
Qatar had chances to attack at the Dutch goal, captain Hassan Al-Haydos being the Maroon's only real creative spark, but his 40th minute attempt to play in Almoez Abdulla broke down yet another Qatari attack after misplacing the pass, as the hosts went into the break on a whimper.
The vulnerability that Qatar's backline possessed was exploited again only four minutes into the second half, as the Oranje extended their advantage.
Ecuador 1-2 Senegal
— Senegal progress to last 16
Captain fantastic Kalidou Koulibaly pops up with second-half winner to book African side's spot in the last-16 as runners-up in Group and they could now face England in the knockouts
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| Image: Senegal beat Ecuador 2-1 to reach the last 16 stage of the Qatar World Cup |
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winner after Ismaila Sarr had scored first.
Senegal have reached reached the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years
Koulibaly's winner came just minutes after Moises Caicedo's leveller for Ecuador
Senegal will face England in the last 16 if the Three Lions finish top of Group B
Senegal took the lead in the 44th minute from a penalty won and converted by Watford forward Sarr, who was clumsily barged over by Bayer Leverkusen central defender Piero Hincapie as he drifted in behind Ecuador’s back four from the left.
Sarr picked himself up to score coolly form the spot, fixing the goalkeeper with his stare as he shuffled up to the spot and stroked it inside the post without looking at the ball, to spark a mass celebration featuring all the substitutes.
It was a goal the African champions deserved, having made such a bold and adventurous start to a game they needed to win if they were to progress.
Gana Gueye wasted a glorious chance inside three minutes, firing wide when well placed, but he wasn’t the only one. Boulaye Dia dragged wide when played through by Youssouf Salaby.
Ecuador’s Argentine boss Gonzalo Alfaro made two changes at half time, and switch shape to 442. Immediately, his team appeared more comfortable, and enjoyed more possession.
Senegal dropped deeper and defended. Everton midfielder Gana Gueye, winning his 99th cap, picked up a yellow card for using an arm in a foul on Gonzalo Plata, a caution that would rule him out of the next game if his team progressed.
Very quickly, however, the initiative was back with Ecuador. A corner, headed forward by Felix Torres, was turned into the net from close range by midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Senegal’s Sabaly standing beside a post had played Caicedo onside but Aliou Cisse’s team responded swiftly and were back in front within three minutes from a free-kick.
It was delivered from the right by Gana Gueye, struck Ecuador captain Valencia on the hip and popped up kindly for Koulibaly, who guided it past ‘keeper on the volley with the inside of his right foot. It was the winner. Destiny, perhaps.
DESTINY For Koulibaly:
Destiny, perhaps. Kalidou Koulibaly went in search of inspiration from the late Papa Bouba Diop as he prepared for a date with destiny, writing the number 19 onto his yellow captain’s armband with a black marker pen.
Nineteen had been the shirt number worn by the former Fulham midfielder when he scored Senegal’s famous winning goal against France in the World Cup finals in 2002.
Here in Qatar, on the second anniversary of Diop’s death at the age of 42, Koulibaly scored the winning goal.
Kalidou Koulibaly sent Senegal through to the last 16 after helping them beat Ecuador 2-1
Koulibaly's winner was a fine finish and came two minutes after Senegal were pegged back
Senegal were jubilant as they reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2002
It was a composed side-foot volley to crush Ecuador, for whom a draw would have been enough to qualify from Group A, and send the African champions into the last 16 of this World Cup.
Senegal will face England for the first time ever if Gareth Southgate’s team win Group B.
Senegal deserved their victory and although they will be without Idrissa Gana Gueye in the last 16, it provides some sort of consolation for their exit four years ago when they were eliminated at this stage of the World Cup in bizarre fashion.
Locked together with Japan on points, goal difference and goals, they were eliminated by virtue of the fact they had two more yellow cards in the group stage.
It was a bitter pill. This time, it was Ecuador who collapsed in tears at the final whistle. They had played so well during their first two games but here they seemed to freeze.
MATCH FACTS
Ecuador (4-3-3): Galindez 6; Preciado 5 (Porozo 85), Torres 6, Hincapie 5, Estupinan 5; Franco 5 (Sarmiento 46, 6.5), Gruezo 5 (Cifuentes 46, 6), Caicedo 6.5; Plata 6, Estrada 5 (Reasco 64, 6), Valencia 5.
Goals: Caicedo 67
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro 5
Senegal (4-3-3): Mendy 6; Salaby 6, Koulibaly 8, Diallo 7, Jakobs 7; I.Gueye 7.5, Ciss 6.5 (Mendy 75, 6), P.Gueye 7; Ndiaye 6.5, (Dieng 75, 6), Dia 6.5 (Cisse 90+5), Sarr 7.5.
Goals: Sarr 44 (pen), Koulibaly 70
Bookings: Gana Gueye
Manager: Aliou Cisse 7
Ref: Clement Turpin (FRA) 7
Att: 44,569
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