The Netherlands made a grand entrance back into major tournament football during Euro 2020, defeating Ukraine in a dramatic five-goal match held in Amsterdam this past Sunday. The game was highly anticipated as the Dutch opened their campaign, and it lived up to the hype, becoming one of the standout fixtures of the competition.
The Netherlands made a winning return in the Euro 2020 by beating Ukraine in a five-goal thriller played in Amsterdam on Sunday. The stage was set for Netherland to open their campaign in a major tournament. The game turned out to be one of the best matches in Euro 2020.
This match ended a seven-year drought for the Dutch on the big stage, their first major tournament outing since the 2014 World Cup semi-finals in Brazil. Utilizing a 4-4-2 setup with Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst up front, the Netherlands eventually secured the win via a late 85th-minute strike from Denzel Dumfries.
While the Netherlands dictated the pace and created more chances from the start, Ukraine stayed competitive thanks to the efforts of Yarmolenko and Yaremchuk. The first half belonged to Ukraine's goalkeeper, Buschan, who produced a masterclass in shot-stopping, including a brilliant reaction save to stop a fierce half-volley from Wijnaldum in the 39th minute.
Although both teams pushed for a breakthrough, the first half concluded without a goal. The second half shifted into high gear as both sides fought intensely for the win. The Dutch dominance finally paid off in the 52nd minute when captain Georginio Wijnaldum slotted home the opening goal.
Just seven minutes later, Wout Weghorst doubled the lead with a powerful strike, putting the Netherlands up 2-0. This sparked an aggressive response from Ukraine, who fought their way back into the match. In the 75th minute, captain Yarmolenko fired a brilliant left-footed shot into the net. Ukraine then equalized in the 79th minute through Yaremchuk, who rose highest to head home a precise free-kick, beating the diving keeper.
The Amsterdam Arena fell silent as the Dutch crowd watched Ukraine erase a two-goal deficit in just five minutes to make it 2-2. It looked as though the match was headed for a draw, but Denzel Dumfries stepped up in the 85th minute. He leaped for a header that Buschan couldn't quite keep out, marking Dumfries' first ever international goal. The crowd erupted as the Netherlands reclaimed the lead just five minutes before the final whistle. With this result, the Netherlands maintain a strong record, having lost only once in their last 11 games, while Ukraine's seven-match unbeaten streak came to an end.
Brilliant Dumfries leaped up to head the ball towards the net, Buschan got a hand but couldn’t keep the ball from going inside the net. It was the first international goal for Dumfries. The Dutch fans found their voices back again as the Netherlands sealed the game just five minutes from full time.
The Netherlands have lost only one game of their last 11 international matches, while Ukraine had been defeated for the first time in seven matches.