2022 World Cup hosts Qatar were eliminated as Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Group A on Saturday.
The result means neither side has yet qualified for the last 16, although it does eliminate Qatar – who had lost 3-1 to Senegal earlier in the day.
Cody Gakpo got the Dutch off to the perfect start with a goal after just six minutes.
A despairing Ecuadorian backpass came to Davy Klaassen, the Ajax midfielder delayed his pass as Gakpo raced into a gap on the edge of the box, and Gakpo took the pass and slapped his left-footed shot into the top corner.
Ecuador’s response was long in coming, but when it did, only Virgil van Dijk’s brilliance kept them at bay.
Again and again, the Liverpool defender was perfectly positioned to keep the Dutch clean sheet intact.
The South Americans did seem to equalise in first-half stoppage time, when Pervis Estupinan flicked Angelo Preciado’s long-range shot into the net but it was ruled out for offside.
Jackson Porozo was standing directly in front of Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
Ecuador hit back at the start of the second half through Enner Valencia.
It showed the range of his talent and why he is emerging as one of the stars in Qatar, but the concern for the Dutch and Louis van Gaal will be the lack of quality they have around him.
Steven Berwign and Davy Klaassen were ineffectual, while Memphis Depay didn’t look entirely match fit when he came off the bench for the second half. Unless your name is Diego Maradona, one man cannot win a World Cup.
It leaves the Netherlands needing a point against Qatar in their final group game on Tuesday, while Ecuador will also progress if they avoid defeat against Senegal.
Ecuador are now unbeaten in four consecutive World Cup games for the first time in their history and that impressive run could not have happened without their veteran captain Valencia.
The 33-year-old has scored each of his country’s past six goals at the World Cup and is just the fourth player to score six consecutive times for a nation in the competition.
But it could be his final contribution. Valencia was stretchered off moments before stoppage time at Khalifa International Stadium after appearing to aggravate the knee problem that almost forced him to miss Ecuador’s second group-stage game.
Whether he’s fit for Tuesday’s crucial decider against Senegal remains to be seen but one thing is certain – Ecuador’s success depends on him.
Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal who is dissatisfied with his team’s performance said:
“We were poor in terms of ball possession and if you’re not good at ball possession you won’t reach the other half. We would lose the ball too quickly so we could not pass to our own players.
“Plus we lost every challenge, every duel, every second ball. Ecuador could have won but they did not have many chances either.
“I must say I was satisfied [with the result] but I was not satisfied with the game. We simply need to improve our game in terms of ball possession and we are working on that and we will continue to work on that. Whether we will make it [further] in this tournament I can’t say, I can’t guarantee that but I think so.”
