World Cup highlights Netherlands wins Group A; Senegal beats Ecuador to advance

The Netherlands advanced to the round of 16 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Qatar on Tuesday at Al Bayt Stadium in Khor, Qatar.

The victory gave the Dutch seven points from two wins and a draw, enough to win Group A.

Cody Gakpo’s third World Cup goal was the first of this game in the 26th minute for the Dutch, who expanded their lead in the 49th minute and never looked back. An apparent third goal in the second half was disallowed because of a handball.

The Dutch are now unbeaten in 15 straight group matches, the third-longest streak of all time. They will face the second-place finisher from Group B on Saturday in the round of 16.

There’s the final whistle, and Senegal holds on to beat Ecuador, 2-1. Senegal finishes second in Group A and will face the Group B winner in the round of 16 on Sunday.

Netherlands beats Qatar, 2-0, and will win Group A. The Dutch will face the second-place team from Group B in a round-of-16 game Saturday. This is the most likely destination for the United States should the Americans beat Iran later today.

Ecuador, running out of time to equalize, will have six minutes of stoppage time to score or will otherwise be eliminated and Senegal will move on. Ecuador made its fourth substitution of the game in the 85th minute, swapping Angelo Preciado for Jackson Porozo.

Netherlands remains comfortably ahead of Qatar 2-0 at the 85-minute mark. Among a recent wave of substitutions, the Dutch removed leading scorer Cody Gakpo.

For Senegal and Ecuador, critical scores came just three minutes apart.

In the 67th minute, Senegal left Moisés Caicedo wide open at the far post during a set piece. After the service, Caicedo redirected a header into the back of the net, silencing the Senegalese crowd, whose pain was short-lived.

In the 70th minute, Ecuador’s Enner Valencia knocked the ball into Kalidou Koulibaly’s path off another set piece on the other end of the pitch. The Senegalese captain jabbed the ball into the net for the go-ahead score.

GOAL: Senegal immediately strikes back with captain Kalidou Koulibaly’s goal in the 70th minute after a poor clearance from Ecuador on a free kick. Now Senegal is through to the knockout round if this result stands.

GOAL: Ecuador finds life with a 68th-minute goal by Moisés Caicedo off a corner kick. Ecuador now is through to the knockout round if current results stand.

Netherlands appeared to extend its lead to 3-0 in the 68th minute, but the goal was waved off because of a handball after a VAR review. The Dutch lead remains comfortable at 2-0.

Senegal, after playing as the more offensive side in the first half, has settled for a more defensive approach in the second half. Ecuador is pushing for an equalizer but has yet to outmaneuver Senegal’s defensive posture.

Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, who has scored all three of the nation’s goals at this World Cup, has had a quiet game, though his teammates clearly are looking to get him the ball in the second half.

Frenkie de Jong pounced on a free ball in front of the net in the 49th minute and put it past Mershaal Barsham to give Netherlands a 2-0 lead over Qatar in the Group A match at Al Bayt Stadium.

The goal was de Jong’s second in international play and his first since 2019.

The Dutch has a comfortable margin and is virtually assured of sailing through to the round of 16.