Xavi Hernandez recorded his first victory as Netherlands head coach when the Oranje beat Serbia 2-1 in a UEFA Nations League match in Belgrade on Sunday. Mexx Meerdink scored both goals for the visitors to secure the win and move the Netherlands to four points from two games in Group A2.
The match was interrupted by a few key moments. The Netherlands took the lead on 30 minutes when Meerdink converted a penalty after Aleksa Terzic fouled Crysencio Summerville, giving Meerdink his first international goal. Serbia responded immediately after half-time when coach Veljko Paunovic introduced Luka Jovic and the substitute turned in a loose ball from a goalmouth scramble less than a minute into the second half.
The visitors regained the lead in the 69th minute as Meerdink, who had made his Netherlands debut against Germany in Xavi’s first match in charge, ran onto a pass from substitute Guus Til and fired a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Serbia had an earlier chance to lead when Dejan Joveljic was completely unmarked inside the area in the 17th minute but shot straight at Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo hobbled off injured and was replaced by Ruben van Bommel.
The Oranje had been held to a 1-1 draw by Germany in Xavi’s debut on Thursday. Xavi was appointed after the Netherlands exited the World Cup in the last 32 against Morocco.
Elsewhere in the Nations League on Sunday, Denmark beat Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen in Group A4. Gustav Isaksen had a first-half strike ruled out for offside and Mikkel Damsgaard struck the post before Denmark opened the scoring eight minutes into the second half when Wales captain Ben Davies diverted Damsgaard’s free-kick into his own net under pressure from Rasmus Hojlund. Denmark doubled their lead 13 minutes later when Isaksen’s deflected shot spun in off the crossbar.
In League B, Austria defeated Kosovo 3-1 in Vienna, with goals from David Affengruber, Junior Adamu and Carney Chukwuemeka.
There was also a late change to Ireland’s fixtures. Ireland’s designated home Nations League match against Israel on October 4 has been moved from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security. Prominent Irish figures, including sportspeople, fan groups and pro-Palestinian campaigners, had protested against the ties going ahead.
Reports for this article were published by Vanguard and AFP via Punch. For the match report in Belgrade see Vanguard and the AFP dispatch carried by Punch at Punch/AFP.
Featured image: Doha Stadium Plus Qatar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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