Seven years after their last major international meeting, the Netherlands started Euro-2021 with a victory, Sunday, June 13, against Ukraine (2-1) in Group C.

But the Dutch got scared.

Diminished by the absences of Matthijs de Ligt, injured in the groin, of captain Virgil van Dijk, seriously injured in a knee this winter, and of the titular goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, tested positive for Covid-19, they experienced an emotional lift in the during this game.

Dominators, they were surprised during the second half by Ukrainians who did not give up.

One-way in the first period

The Oranje, however, put the turbo from the start of the meeting. The Olympique Lyonnais player Memphis Depay gave himself a first opportunity in the second minute with a left strike captured in two times by the Ukrainian goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan. Three minutes later, it was his teammate Denzel Dumfries who set the Ukrainian defense on fire. The defender of PSV Eindhoven strikes from close range, but the opposing goalkeeper intervenes once again.

The Dutch control, but the Ukrainians are suddenly dangerous, especially on the counters.

In the 28th minute, Andriy Yarmolenko, served by a nice heel from Roman Yaremchuk infiltrated the area, but he was stopped by a cold-blooded tackle from Patrick van Aanholt.

Six minutes before the break, new PSG player Georginio Wijnaldum is about to deceive Heorhiy Bushchan with a volley from the right, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper saves his goals with a beautiful reflex save.

The Oranje continue to grow, but fail to materialize.

In the 40th, Denzel Dumfries misses the opportunity to take the lead before returning to the locker room.

Well served by Depay at the far post, the Dutchman had the goal wide open with a header, but could not find the frame.

It was not until the start of the second half that Frank De Boer's men were finally rewarded.

In the 52nd minute, Georginio Wijnaldum allows his team to take control of the meeting.

After a cross from Denzel Dumfries pushed back by the Ukrainian goalkeeper, the neoparisian follows the action and places the ball under the bar.

Stunned by this first goal, the Ukrainians accuse the blow and take a second in stride.

Wout Weghorst made the break for the Netherlands in the 58th minute with a shot from the right at close range.

Two goals in four minutes for the Ukrainians

As devastated, the players of Andriy Chevtchenko undergo the opposing attacks, before Andriy Yarmolenko does not sound the revolt with a magnificent shot wound from 25 meters which finds the way to the opposite skylight (75th).

Under the impetus of this thunderclap, the Ukrainians even managed to equalize four minutes later thanks to a header from Roman Yaremchuk on a cross from Ruslan Malinovskyi.

But the Dutch found the resources to snatch the victory in the 85th minute on a decisive header from Denzel Dumfries.

Thanks to this success, the Oranje are 2nd in Group C behind Austria, winner of North Macedonia.

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