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The Netherlands and Ecuador played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in a Group A game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday (25 November).
After the Dutch took an early lead through a fine goal from Cody Gakpo, the Ecuadorians slowly gained control of the game. Both sides came into the game after morale-boosting wins in their previous match and offered quite a spectacle for fans.
Due to the evenly matched personnel on show, both managers fielded defensive-minded line-ups with three centre-backs propped up by two wing-backs. But the game that ensued was anything but dull.
The Oranje began the game on the front foot through some short, incisive passing. The mercurial Gakpo blasted home the quickest goal of this World Cup so far in the sixth minute to give them the lead. Nathan Ake passed forward from the back, and Davy Klassen flicked it to the feet of Gakpo outside the box, whose rousing volley almost took off the roof of the net.
However, Ecuador dominated proceedings after that, taking charge of possession and pushing the Dutch back with their aggression. Pervis Estupinan, playing at left wing-back, was their standout performer as he drove the team forward down the left flank.
Estupinan thought he scored in first-half stoppage time when he redirected a shot from outside the box into the Netherlands' net. However, it was ruled out as Jackson Porozo was deemed to be blocking the view of the 'keeper.
Ecuador were not to be denied their equaliser, though. Estupian picked up a loose ball after Jurrien Timber had given it away under sustained pressure. The Ecuadorian's precise and powerful shot was parried by the'keeper, but captain Enner Valencia was on hand to tap it home in the 49th minute. This was his sixth straight goal for the Ecuadorians in the World Cup.
The South Americans had most of the better chances for the rest of the game. A thunderbolt from Gonzalo Plata beat Andres Noppert but rattled off the framework. Eventually, the shaken Netherlands side held on for a point, having managed a meager two shots on goal.
Both sides now have four points from two games. On that note, here are the player ratings from the game.
Netherlands
Andries Noppert - 5.5/10
He made a great debut against Senegal but had a mixed outing tonight. Noppert was at fault for the goal when his heavy touch and hurried clearance led to a turnover. He did make three saves but could only parry the ball into the path of Valencia for the equaliser.
Jurrien Timber - 5.5/10
The talented defender was left a little frazzled by the enterprising Estupinan but did manage four clearances, two tackles and two interceptions.
Virjil Van Dijk - 5.5/10
The ace centre-back had an assured performance for Netherlands except during the goal when he did not go in for a block on Estupinan, whose shot led to it. However, Van Dijk was neat on the ball and managed an 85% pass accuracy.
Nathan Ake - 6/10
Played a part in creating the goal for the Netherlands. He was forthright in moving the ball forward during the initial stages but played Valencia onside for Ecuador's equalizer.
Daley Blind - 6/10
The experienced wing-back had a stolid but unremarkable outing.
Frenkie de Jong - 6/10
The Barcelona midfielder made 63 of his 68 attempted passes in characteristic fashion. However, he was lazy on the ball after Noppert's hurried clearance and put Timber in pressure with a hospital pass, leading to the equalizer.
Teun Koopmeiners - 5.5/10
Koopmeiners partnered De Jong in midfield but failed to dominate the game from an attacking sense. He fared better defensively, making more tackles than Van Dijk. He was taken off in the second half.
Denzel Dumfries - 6/10
After a fine opening-game performance, Dumfries had a bit of a chastening experience against Ecuador. He had to defend a lot and could not exert any influence on the attack through overlapping runs as he is wont to do.
Cody Gakpo - 7/10
Gakpo began by scoring a fine goal and showed great exuberance but fizzled out as the Dutch began defending in numbers while being pushed back. His passing accuracy of 61 per cent is something he will be looking to improve.
Davy Klassen - 6.5/10
Klassen impressed early and assisted the Dutch goal but faded out as the game wore on.
Steven Bergwijn - 6/10
Bergwijn tried hard but would be disappointed not to have managed a shot on goal as a forward.
Netherlands Substitutes
Steven Beghuis - 5.5/10
He was dropped to the bench for this one but had little impact after coming on, misplacing some passes.
Memphis Depay - 5.5/10
The Netherlands' leading striker once again came off the bench but could not get into the game in the face of some stolid defending. Had zero shots on goal and made no key passes.
Marten de Roon - 6/10
He was neat in his passing but could not engender any key attacking moves.
Wout Weghorst - 5.5/10
The tall striker was never given any quality balls to show off his prowess during his frustrating stint.
Ecuador Ratings
Hernan Galindez - 6/10
The keeper had a strange game. Galindez could do nothing about the goal and had little else to do after that.
Jackson Porozo - 6.5/10
He put in an able shift as one of the centre-backs, making three clearances and two tackles, but did pick up a yellow.
Felix Torres - 6.5/10
The blonde centre-back kept Berwijn and then Depay and Weghorst under his thumb.
Piero Hincapie - 6.5/10
He was a rock at the back for Ecuador, making four tackles and five clearances as the Dutch were blunted in attack after their opener.
Pervis Estupinan - 8/10
He was a livewire at left wing-back. Not only did he run the length of the pitch, but his incisive passing and crossing, powerful shooting and defensive cover made the difference. Made 85 per cent of his passes and two key passes.
Moises Caicedo - 6/10
Caicedo could have influenced the game more for Ecuador had he been a little more forthright with his passing. He was solid defensively, though, making five tackles.
Jhegson Mendes - 6.5/10
He moved the ball forward accurately and speedily as Caicedo set back, allowing Mendes the license to move forward.
Angelo Preciado - 5.5/10
He was a bit profligate in good positions in attack. Preciado did not have a lot to do defensively either, with the Netherlands offering little for large swathes while going forward.
Enner Valencia - 7/10
The Ecuador talisman scored once again, and his overall play was also impressive. Valencia often dropped deep to get involved in the build-up, making two key passes. However, he came off in the 90th minute on a stretcher after seemingly hurting his knee, making for worrying images for Ecuadorian fans.
Gonzalo Plata - 6/10
He had one great shot thundering off the crossbar. Plata passed with a high degree of accuracy but needed to make more incisive runs off the ball to be more of an attacking threat.
Michael Estrada - 5.5/10
Ecuador's sole striker stood out more for his on-field skirmishes. Estrada had two shots, which were off the mark and had 29 touches before he was taken off.
Ecuardor Substitutes
Jeremy Sarmiento - 6/10
He passed the ball accurately and into dangerous areas but did not have any notable influence on the game.
Kevin Rodriguez, Romario Ibarra - N/A
Came on too late to be rated.
