<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The Netherlands left it late to snatch a 2-0 victory over Senegal in their Group A World Cup match, in a game that was high in industry but largely lacking quality.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not every game can be a six-goal thriller, but most viewers were probably expecting a few more highlights from a meeting between two top-20-ranked teams at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Netherlands edged an evenly matched, fluid first half, despite Ismaila Sarr sending in a cracking curling shot for Senegal in the 24th minute that was deflected wide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the game slowed in a largely pedestrian second half before a flurry of late chances preceded an 85th-minute goal from Cody Gakpo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The number 8 did well to get to Barcelona starlet Frenkie de Jong’s enticing cross ahead of Senegal’s keeper, Edouard Mendy, and nod the ball into the net.\</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Substitute Davy Klaassen added a second in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time after Mendy failed to gather a shot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Senegal struggled without the influence of star forward Sadio Mane although Sarr, moved across to the left, shone as he attempted to make up for the absence of their injured talisman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the African champions came close on occasions, they met stiff resistance in the shape of Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert, who made a flurry of strong saves in his first game for the national team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dutch fans said they were happy with the result but acknowledged the overall performance left a lot to be desired.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I thought it would be easy but it wasn’t,” Ron Tubee, a fan, told Al Jazeera at the Al Thumama Stadium. Aljazeera</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>