“Teun Koopmeiners curls home a left-footed free kick into the bottom left corner to put Netherlands 1-0 ahead, confirmed after a VAR check.”
Pivotal“Mihajlo Cvetkovic powers home a header from Aleksa Terzic's cross to level the match at 1-1 just four minutes after falling behind.”
Pivotal“Joshua Zirkzee, on since half-time, converts from close range after being set up by Tijjani Reijnders to restore the Dutch lead for good.”
Pivotal
Netherlands
Serbia
Outstanding performance
Netherlands•DefenderNetherlands dominated the territorial battle, controlling 64% possession and out-shooting Serbia 22-14, but it took a set-piece and a super-sub to see off a stubborn Serbian side. Teun Koopmeiners' free-kick opened the scoring in the 31st minute, only for Serbia to respond almost immediately through Mihajlo Cvetkovic's header four minutes later, exposing the visitors' vulnerability from crosses despite their defensive discipline. The second half was far quieter until Joshua Zirkzee, on at the break for Netherlands, turned the game with a close-range finish in the 72nd minute after good work from Tijjani Reijnders. For Netherlands, the win continues a strong run of form and reinforces their status as one of the Nations League's top sides, while Serbia will take some encouragement from matching the Dutch in big chances created despite being second-best for long periods.
How entertaining was this match?
Andrija Zivkovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Foul committed by Jorrel Hato of the Netherlands.
Attempt saved. Nemanja Gudelj's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top center of the goal by Bart Verbruggen. The attempt was assisted by Filip Kostic.
Corner awarded to Serbia, conceded by Bart Verbruggen.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of added time.
Strahinja Pavlovic from Serbia attempts a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes close and misses the top left corner. Filip Kostic provided the assist.
Micky van de Ven went off injured after Netherlands had used all subs.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Micky van de Ven from the Netherlands.
Filip Kostic from Serbia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Joshua Zirkzee of the Netherlands.
Luka Jovic from Serbia misses a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it close but to the left. The attempt was assisted by Andrija Zivkovic's cross.
Attempt missed. Gjivai Zechiël from the Netherlands takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes high and wide to the right. Quinten Timber provided the assist after a fast break.
Strahinja Pavlovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Joshua Zirkzee of the Netherlands.
Foul committed by Sasa Lukic of Serbia.
Quinten Timber from the Netherlands wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nemanja Gudelj wins a free kick for Serbia in the attacking half.
Ruben van Bommel commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Quinten Timber comes on for Tijjani Reijnders.
Serbia wins a corner after Jorrel Hato concedes.
Kosta Nedeljkovic from Serbia wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Tijjani Reijnders of the Netherlands.
Substitution for Serbia: Nemanja Gudelj comes on for Stefan Gudelj.
Sasa Lukic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Teun Koopmeiners commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Teun Koopmeiners' left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The attempt was assisted by Joshua Zirkzee.
Foul committed by Nemanja Maksimovic of Serbia.
Gjavai Zechiël from the Netherlands wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Nemanja MaksimovicYellow CardNemanja Maksimovic from Serbia receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Kosta Nedeljkovic from Serbia misses a header from the center of the box, sending it to the right. The cross was assisted by Filip Kostic.
Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands has his left-footed shot from the left side of the box saved in the bottom right corner by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic of Serbia. The assist came from Gjivai Zechiël.
Substitution for Serbia: Filip Kostic comes on for Aleksa Terzic.
Substitution for Serbia: Andrija Zivkovic comes on for Lazar Samardzic.
Tijjani Reijnders has a left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, but it's blocked. The attempt was assisted by Denzel Dumfries, who provided the cross.
assist: Tijjani Reijnders
Goal! Netherlands lead 2-1 against Serbia. Joshua Zirkzee scores for the Netherlands with a right-footed shot from very close range into the bottom right corner, assisted by Tijjani Reijnders.
Offside called against the Netherlands. Joshua Zirkzee is caught offside.
Substitution for Serbia: Nemanja Maksimovic comes on for Aleksandar Stankovic.
Substitution for Serbia: Luka Jovic comes on for Dusan Tadic.
Lazar Samardzic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jorrel Hato of the Netherlands.
Crysencio Summerville's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Tijjani Reijnders provided the assist.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Serbia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Denzel Dumfries commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Attempt saved. Mihajlo Cvetkovic from Serbia has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved in the bottom right corner by Bart Verbruggen from the Netherlands. The shot was assisted by Strahinja Pavlovic with a headed pass.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Gjivai Zechiël comes on for Ryan Gravenberch.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Jorrel Hato comes on for Joey Veerman.
Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands misses an attempt, sending a right-footed shot from the left side of the box high and wide to the right. He was assisted by Joey Veerman with a through ball.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Ruben van Bommel comes on for Noa Lang.
Foul committed by Aleksa Terzic of Serbia.
Noa Lang from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Lazar Samardzic from Serbia has his left-footed shot from outside the box saved in the bottom left corner by Bart Verbruggen of the Netherlands. The assist came from Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Corner awarded to Serbia after Denzel Dumfries concedes.
Lazar Samardzic from Serbia attempts a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes close and misses to the left. Dusan Tadic provided the assist after a fast break.
Teun Koopmeiners from the Netherlands has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Serbia. Joey Veerman provided the assist.
Sasa Lukic from Serbia receives a yellow card.
Strahinja Pavlovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Strahinja Pavlovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Denzel Dumfries commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Mihajlo Cvetkovic from Serbia misses an attempt with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, going close but just to the left. The assist came from Stefan Gudelj.
The second half begins with the match tied at 1-1 between the Netherlands and Serbia.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Joshua Zirkzee comes on for Mexx Meerdink.
First half ends with the score tied at 1-1 between the Netherlands and Serbia.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Aleksa Terzic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Tijjani Reijnders of the Netherlands.
Tijjani ReijndersYellow CardTijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands receives a yellow card for a foul.
Strahinja Pavlovic from Serbia attempts a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it goes close and misses to the left. He was assisted by Dusan Tadic.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Sasa Lukic concedes.
Foul committed by Aleksandar Stankovic of Serbia.
Ryan Gravenberch from the Netherlands wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Serbia is called offside as Aleksa Terzic is caught in an offside position.
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk from the Netherlands has a right-footed shot from the center of the box that is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Mihajlo Cvetkovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Joey Veerman of the Netherlands.
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk's header from the center of the box is blocked. Teun Koopmeiners provided the cross.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Sasa Lukic concedes.
assist: Aleksa Terzić
Goal! The score is now Netherlands 1, Serbia 1. Mihajlo Cvetkovic scores for Serbia with a header from very close range into the top right corner, assisted by Aleksa Terzic's cross.
Foul committed by Sasa Lukic of Serbia.
Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Kosta Nedeljkovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Teun Koopmeiners from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Netherlands lead 1-0 against Serbia. Teun Koopmeiners scores for the Netherlands from a free kick with a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. The goal is confirmed after a VAR review.
Strahinja PavlovićYellow CardStrahinja Pavlovic of Serbia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Strahinja Pavlovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Srdjan Babic commits a foul for Serbia.
Mexx Meerdink from the Netherlands wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Dusan Tadic from Serbia takes a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes wide to the right. Lazar Samardzic provided the assist.
Mihajlo Cvetkovic from Serbia misses the attempt with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it high and wide to the right. The assist came from Dusan Tadic.
Mihajlo Cvetkovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Joey Veerman commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Foul committed by Strahinja Pavlovic of Serbia.
Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Tijjani Reijnders' right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Crysencio Summerville provided the assist.
Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) heads the ball from the center of the box, but it goes to the left. Teun Koopmeiners provided the assist with a cross after a corner.
Attempt missed. Tijjani Reijnders (Netherlands) takes a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes high and wide to the left after a corner.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Kosta Nedeljkovic concedes.
Sasa Lukic commits a foul for Serbia.
Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Srdjan Babic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Aleksa Terzic is caught offside for Serbia.
Foul committed by Mexx Meerdink of the Netherlands.
Foul committed by Strahinja Pavlovic of Serbia.
Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Noa Lang from the Netherlands misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, going close but missing to the left. He was assisted by Mexx Meerdink after a fast break.
Stefan Gudelj from Serbia commits a foul.
Noa Lang from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Stefan GudeljYellow CardStefan Gudelj of Serbia receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Strahinja Pavlovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Denzel Dumfries commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Joey Veerman's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The attempt was assisted by Crysencio Summerville.
Attempt blocked. Mexx Meerdink's header from very close range for the Netherlands is blocked.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after a concession by Stefan Gudelj.
Attempt missed. Joey Veerman (Netherlands) has a right-footed shot from outside the box that goes to the left. He was assisted by Crysencio Summerville after a corner.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Kosta Nedeljkovic concedes.
Noa Lang from the Netherlands misses a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it to the right. The attempt was assisted by Crysencio Summerville's cross.
Attempt missed. Mexx Meerdink's left-footed shot from the center of the box is too high, assisted by Ryan Gravenberch.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Kosta Nedeljkovic concedes.
Micky van de Ven from the Netherlands misses a header from the center of the box, sending it to the right. The attempt was assisted by Teun Koopmeiners, who delivered a cross after a corner.
First half begins.
Fresh off a 2-1 win in Belgrade, the Netherlands host a struggling Serbian side desperate to avoid rock bottom in League A. With Xavi's men unbeaten and in control, Serbia face a must-win scenario just to stay alive in the group.
