Euro 2024 Qualifying LIVE - Updates from Athens as Greece host the Netherlands in Group B
Euro Qualifying / Matchday 8
OPAP Arena / 16.10.2023
- V. van Dijk(90+3' PEN)
Live
Live Updates
ByOli Gent
Updated 16/10/2023 at 21:06 GMT
- All
- Highlights
FULL REPORT: VAN DIJK'S LATE PENALTY SAVES NETHERLANDS FROM GREEK TRAGEDY
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DUTCH DELIGHT IN ATHENS
The Netherlands looked to have stumbled again in their quest to qualify for Euro 2024, but captain Virgil van Dijk came to their late rescue as his penalty earned them a scrappy 1-0 win over Greece in Athens.
In a low-key affair where clear-cut chances were at an all-time low, Ronald Koeman's Oranje controlled much of the game's proceedings, but just could not break down the resolute home defence.
The game's big highlight was a missed penalty just shy of the half-hour, as Wout Weghorst, the ex-Manchester United striker, struck his spot-kick tamely to Odysseas Vlachodimos' left, giving the Greek goalkeeper an easy save to keep the scoreline unharmed.
Greece, managed by former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet, switched between a back five and back four, looking to get their talisman Kostas Tsimikas, the Liverpool left-back, high and wide to create crossing opportunities for Fotis Ioannidis and other box-crashers to attack.
Giorgos Masouras, the Greek right-winger, had scored five goals in seven Euro 2024 qualifiers before this game, but couldn't get into the encounter, marshalled well by the experienced Nathan Ake.
AC Milan midfielder Tijani Reijnders had three strikes from range all come close to the target; the second - a dipping effort - scooped clear by Vlachodimos, and Steven Bergwijn also forced a save from the Nottingham Forest shot-stopper as the Dutch's profligacy proved their downfall.
Xavi Simons missed a gilt-edged opportunity on 53 minutes as he side-footed wide after working a yard of space in a congested Greek penalty area, as the game threatened to peter out.
That was until Vangelis Pavlidis, the AZ Alkmaar striker sent on by Poyet to score the winner for Greece, felled Denzel Dumfries in the last minute, and the referee Alejandro Hernandez pointed to the spot after a long VAR deliberation.
Van Dijk stepped up to avenge Weghorst's earlier miss from 12 yards, sending Vlachodimos the wrong way, and sparing the Dutch's blushes as they take control of their qualification destiny.
End of 2nd Half
FT
FULL TIME
It's Dutch delight in Athens, as van Dijk's penalty saves the day for Ronald Koeman's Oranje. They move into second in Group B, and now take full control of their Euro 2024 destiny.
90+10'
NO PENALTY!
90+8'
RED CARD!
Gus Poyet is sent off after his protests go too far, and VAR are checking the Retsos challenge on Brobbey!
90+6'
GREAT CHALLENGE
Brobbey races clear as Retsos makes a dicey challenge, but he's adjudged to have won the ball, as Greece pump it forward desperately.
90'
SIX ADDED MINUTES
90+2'
GOAL!
Van Dijk - of all people - scores! He sends Vlachodimos the wrong way to give Holland a late lead.
Penalty
V. van Dijk
Netherlands
Goals1
On target1
Fouls1
Fouls against1
90'
IT'S GIVEN!
90'
VAR CHECKING IT...
The referee has been sent to the screen! He's looking at the two challenges, Retsos on Brobbey, and Dumfries being felled by Pavlidis.
89'
PENALTY!
Holland have a chance to win it right at the death, as Dumfries goes down under the clumsy challenge of Pavlidis.
87'
YELLOW CARD
Pavlidis is booked for a silly challenge on van de Ven.
Yellow card
V. Pavlidis
Greece
Yellow Cards1
Fouls1
86'
HAPPY WITH A POINT?
Greece are the ones knocking on the door, looking for the winner. It seems that the Netherlands are dropping deeper and deeper, happy to take a point back home.
84'
CLOSE!
Greece break at pace as Masouras dinks one into the middle, and Ioannidis gets ahead of van Dijk, but can only glance the header wide of the target.
82'
SUBSTITUTION
Poyet sends on another striker as Mantolos is sacrificed for Vangelis Pavlidis, the AZ Alkmaar striker.
On
V. Pavlidis
Greece
Off
P. Mantalos
Greece
Blocked Shots1
Yellow Cards1
Fouls2
Fouls against2
81'
SUBSTITUTION
Maarten de Roon replaces Wieffer in the engine room for Holland.
On
M. de Roon
Netherlands
Off
M. Wieffer
Netherlands
Fouls3
Wide1
79'
WAYWARD PASS
.., from Ake, and Wieffer loses out on the far sideline. That just sums up the evening's events.
74'
SUBSTITUTION
Micky van de Ven replaces Hartman, moving Ake to left-back.
73'
FIRST GREEK CORNER
Chance for the hosts to get a meaningful cross into the box. The centre-halves are up, and Tsimikas' delivery is cleared well.