“Aleksa Terzic fouls Summerville in the box, and Meerdink converts the resulting penalty to put Netherlands ahead.”
Pivotal“Immediately after the restart, substitute Luka Jović fires home from the center of the box to level the score at 1-1.”
Pivotal“Meerdink scores his second of the match, finishing from the center of the box after being set up by Summerville, restoring the Dutch lead for good.”
Pivotal
Serbia
Netherlands
Outstanding performance
Netherlands•AttackerNetherlands controlled this match from start to finish, racking up 67% possession and 25 shots to Serbia's 11, and their dominance was reflected in the scoreline despite a scare early in the second half. Meerdink's clinical penalty conversion gave the Dutch the lead before the break, but Serbia responded instantly out of the tunnel as substitute Luka Jović struck within seconds of the restart to level things at 1-1. That equalizer proved short-lived though, as the Dutch's superior control eventually told when Meerdink struck again in the 69th minute, assisted by Summerville, to restore the lead for good. For Serbia, this result continues a difficult stretch of form, while Netherlands' clinical edge in front of goal, converting just a fraction of their created chances, but the right ones, showcases the depth and quality that could serve them well in future Nations League fixtures.
How entertaining was this match?
Luka Jovic from Serbia misses the attempt with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, sending it too high. He was assisted by Andrija Zivkovic, who provided a cross after a corner.
Attempt saved. Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 3 minutes of added time.
Serbia wins a corner after Virgil van Dijk concedes.
Attempt saved. Ruben van Bommel's left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box is saved in the bottom left corner by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. The assist was provided by Guus Til.
Attempt saved. Bart Verbruggen from the Netherlands saves a left-footed shot from outside the box by Filip Kostic of Serbia, aimed at the top center of the goal. The shot was assisted by Andrija Zivkovic.
Luka Jovic's header from the center of the box is saved by Bart Verbruggen in the top center of the goal. Dusan Tadic provided the assist with a cross.
Corner awarded to Serbia after Bart Verbruggen concedes.
Filip Kostic wins a free kick for Serbia in the defensive half.
Crysencio Summerville commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Jurriën Timber from the Netherlands receives a yellow card.
Andrija Zivkovic of Serbia is caught offside.
Sasa Lukic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Kenneth Taylor of the Netherlands.
Joey Veerman's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Dusan Tadic commits a foul for Serbia.
Joey Veerman wins a free kick for the Netherlands in the attacking half.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Quinten Timber comes on for Mexx Meerdink.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Jurriën Timber comes on for Denzel Dumfries.
Offside called against the Netherlands. Kenneth Taylor is caught offside.
Luka Jovic from Serbia misses a header from the center of the box, sending it close but to the left. He was assisted by Dusan Tadic, who delivered a cross after a corner.
Luka Jovic's header from the center of the box for Serbia is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Dusan Tadic's cross.
Serbia wins a corner after Micky van de Ven concedes.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Nemanja Gudelj concedes.
Guus Til from the Netherlands has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it is blocked.
Attempt missed by Kenneth Taylor from the Netherlands with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Substitution for Serbia: Filip Kostic comes on for Strahinja Pavlovic.
Srdjan Babic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mexx Meerdink of the Netherlands.
assist: Guus Til
Goal! Mexx Meerdink scores for the Netherlands with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. The score is now Serbia 1, Netherlands 2.
Crysencio Summerville's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Mexx Meerdink.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Guus Til comes on for Ryan Gravenberch.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Kenneth Taylor comes on for Tijjani Reijnders.
Attempt saved. Ryan Gravenberch from the Netherlands has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the top center of the goal by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Serbia. The assist comes from Ruben van Bommel.
Attempt missed by Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands, who took a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Offside for the Netherlands. Ryan Gravenberch is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Mexx Meerdink's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Ruben van Bommel provided the assist.
Luka Jovic of Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Virgil van Dijk commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Andrija Zivkovic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands.
Substitution for Serbia: Nemanja Maksimovic comes on for Aleksandar Stankovic.
Substitution for Serbia: Strahinja Erakovic comes on for Kosta Nedeljkovic.
Attempt missed by Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands, who took a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Strahinja Pavlovic wins a free kick for Serbia in the defensive half.
Joey Veerman from the Netherlands commits a foul.
Ruben van Bommel's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Tijjani Reijnders provided the assist.
Attempt blocked. Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that is blocked.
Strahinja Pavlovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Ryan Gravenberch from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Denzel Dumfries commits a handball for the Netherlands.
Ruben van Bommel from the Netherlands hits the woodwork with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Tijjani Reijnders' right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Joey Veerman.
Dusan Tadic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Ryan Gravenberch commits a foul for the Netherlands.
Attempt saved. Bart Verbruggen (Netherlands) saves a right-footed shot from Andrija Zivkovic (Serbia) taken from the center of the box, directed towards the bottom right corner.
Attempt missed by Sasa Lukic from Serbia, who took a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
assist: Saša Lukić
Goal! The score is now 1-1 as Luka Jovic scores for Serbia with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Attempt saved. Luka Jovic's left-footed shot from the center of the box is saved.
Substitution for Serbia: Luka Jovic comes on for Dejan Joveljic.
The second half begins with Serbia trailing the Netherlands 1-0.
Substitution for Serbia: Dusan Tadic comes on for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 1 minute of added time.
The first half ends with Serbia trailing 0-1 against the Netherlands.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Serbia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Joey Veerman from the Netherlands commits a foul.
Attempt saved. Denzel Dumfries from the Netherlands has his right-footed shot from the right side of the box saved in the bottom right corner by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic of Serbia. The assist came from Mexx Meerdink.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after a concession by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Attempt missed. Jan Paul van Hecke from the Netherlands heads the ball from the center of the box after a corner.
Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after Aleksandar Stankovic concedes.
Dejan Joveljic commits a foul for Serbia.
Micky van de Ven wins a free kick for the Netherlands in the attacking half.
Aleksa Terzic is caught offside for Serbia.
Nemanja Gudelj wins a free kick for Serbia in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mexx Meerdink of the Netherlands.
Goal! Mexx Meerdink scores for the Netherlands with a left-footed shot. The score is now Serbia 0, Netherlands 1.
Penalty awarded to the Netherlands as Crysencio Summerville is fouled in the penalty area.
Aleksa Terzic of Serbia concedes a penalty after committing a foul in the penalty area.
Strahinja Pavlovic commits a foul for Serbia.
Ryan Gravenberch of the Netherlands is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Ryan Gravenberch from the Netherlands takes a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Ruben van Bommel's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Tijjani Reijnders provided the assist.
Serbia is called offside as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is caught in an offside position.
Corner awarded to the Netherlands after a concession by Srdjan Babic.
Attempt saved. Tijjani Reijnders from the Netherlands has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is saved.
Attempt saved. Mexx Meerdink from the Netherlands has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is saved.
Substitution for the Netherlands: Ruben van Bommel comes on for Cody Gakpo due to an injury.
Attempt saved. Dejan Joveljic's right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved.
Attempt missed. Mexx Meerdink from the Netherlands heads the ball from the center of the box but it goes to the left. Cody Gakpo provided the cross.
Cody Gakpo from the Netherlands is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Sasa Lukic of Serbia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Sasa Lukic commits a foul for Serbia.
Kosta Nedeljkovic from Serbia commits a handball.
Attempt missed. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Serbia takes a left-footed shot from a challenging angle on the left.
Cody Gakpo's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Tijjani Reijnders provided the assist.
First half begins.
Serbia and Netherlands both stumbled out of the blocks in Group 2, and neither can afford another slip-up in Belgrade. With Dusan Vlahovic sidelined for the hosts and Brian Brobbey out for the Dutch, both sides face this early-season clash short-handed but desperate for a first win.
