Going into the sport as Group A leaders, the Netherlands would have been the first nation to ebook a spot within the final 16 if they’d crushed Ecuador on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, following Senegal’s 3-1 conquer the hosts Qatar earlier within the day.
The Dutch began in the very best vogue, going forward with the quickest purpose of the event up to now, a surprising left-foot strike by PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo simply contained in the sixth minute.
However Ecuador labored onerous to reply and there was a warning signal for the Netherlands in first-half damage time when the South Individuals discovered the web by means of Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan, solely to have the hassle dominated out for offside.
