Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead with a stunning strike inside the opening six minutes, before Enner Valencia equalised for La Tri four minutes into the second half.
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Ecuador came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Netherlands in their Group A fixture of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Khalifa international stadium on Friday. Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead with a stunning strike inside the opening six minutes, before Enner Valencia equalised for La Tri four minutes into the second half. The South Americans were clearly the better side and Holland were lucky to get a point. The result helped both sides to move to four points from two games and occupy the top two spots in the group. Netherlands will play an already eliminated Qatar in their final group-fixture next week, knowing a draw will be enough to go through to the next round, while the situation is similar for Ecuador as they need to avoid a defeat against Senegal in the next game to secure a spot in the last-16.
🔥 ¡Momento exacto donde 18 millones de ecuatorianos gritaron con el alma! #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/0T3I2A4IwQ
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) November 25, 2022
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Gakpo scored his second consecutive goal in as many World Cup games to put the Dutch on the driving seat against La Tri. The 23-year-old’s stunning left-footed strike from just outside the box went past the Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez and into the back of the net. The PSV Eindhoven player has been a lone bright spot for a Dutch side that is struggling to get going in the 2022 World Cup. In the previous game also, although Louis Van Gaal’s side secured a 2-0 win, they were far from convincing. Gakpo was the hero for Holland against Senegal, as he broke the deadlock with an 84th-minute header from a Frenkie de Jong assist. The 1.93 m tall Dutchman is a versatile player who can play down the centre as well as on the wings. He is solid in the air, has decent dribbling skills and has good positional awareness.
The Ecuador skipper Valencia led by example against the Netherlands. The Fenerbahce striker who had scored both of La Tri’s goals in the opening fixture against Qatar continued his stunning form in front of goal to score the equaliser at the Khalifa Stadium. The former West Ham United player tucked in a rebound from close range after Estupinan’s powerful low shot was brilliantly saved by the Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert. With his third goal in Qatar, the 33-year-old became the first player in World Cup history to score six consecutive goals for a South American nation. He recorded 44 touches, played two key passes and two shots on target. Meanwhile, he was unfortunately stretchered off the field and Ecuador will hope it isn’t too serious.
MVP 🔥#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/8PdRrJ4e4g
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) November 25, 2022
Netherlands have been far from convincing in both of their opening two World Cup games. The dutch were lucky not to end up on the losing side against Ecuador, as the South American’s dominated the match in the second half. Louis Van Gaal’s side attempted just two shots and only one of them was on target, while La Tri recorded 15 shots with four of them on target. The situation was no different in the first match against Senegal, when Holland’s first real effort on goal came in the 84th-minute through Gakpo’s goal. Although the likes of De Jong, Gakpo and Nathan Ake have been producing some fine individual performances, collectively the Dutch haven’t been at their best.
