The Netherlands and Belgium played a 101 friendly draw on Wednesday where Premier League stars Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard struggled and the Dutch suffered injury ahead of a key World Cup qualifier. Dutch got a lead in the 38th minute through a penalty stroke from Davy Klaassen. It was the 126th meeting between the two neighbours whose fortunes are seemingly in different directions. Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco grabbed a late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands. Carrasco left foot shot in the 82nd minute took a deflection and looped over Maarten Stekelenburg to reward the visitors a second-half pressure.
Belgium team is already looking forward to the return from a string of injuries of Captain Vincent Kompany but the Manchester City defender pulled out of the starting line-up just before the kickoff as a precaution.
However, it was unclear whether Kompany would be back for Sunday’s game against Estonia in Brussels. Belgium hasn’t missed Kompany yet in its Group H qualifying campaign, scoring 13 goals and conceding none as it has won its first three matches. The team felt his absence as the Netherlands has the better of the scrappy first half with Vincent Janssen twice getting in behind the Belgium defence.
Netherlands captain Wesley Sneijder said. “We were well organised and didn’t give much away,” “But we didn’t create much, either.”
Carrasco said. “The team played a good match,” “The second half we were going for goal.”
Belgium started without a classic deep centre forward instead they played with a front three of Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Carrasco. Their positional switches and speed were a problem for the Dutch defence and they were not able to carve out any clear cut chances to score a goal before the half-time. Roberto Martinez, Belgium coach replaced Mertens with Lukaku in the 63rd and the powerful striker twice who came close to levelling scores 15 minutes later.
It was Carrasco who finally paved a way for Belgium’s success and let the pressure result into something which they were trying for with his perfect shot. This goal game for Belgium in 82nd minute which finally offered the team some relief.
