Dutch come from behind to virtually end Irish hopes in Euro 2024 qualifiers

DUBLIN – Wout Weghorst came off the bench to score a second-half winner as the Netherlands fought back from conceding an early goal to beat Ireland 2-1 in their European Championship Group B qualifier on Sunday.

The Irish went ahead after four minutes when Adam Idah converted a penalty, but the Dutch won a spot kick of their own which Cody Gakpo tucked away for a 19th-minute equaliser.

Weghorst grabbed a second goal for the visitors at the Aviva Stadium after 56 minutes to move the Netherlands up to second in the standings on nine points, six behind leaders France but with a game in a hand.

Greece are also on nine points after beating Gibraltar 5-0 at home on Sunday.

Said Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman: “The start was really poor. We expected high pressing from the Irish team, but we lost many balls in our possession and we did not have control in the game.

“After 20, 25 minutes, it was a little bit more calmed down and the decision at half-time to change the system to play four at the back was a good decision. After half-time, we controlled the game.”

Defeat for the Irish leaves them having lost four of their five qualifiers and with little chance of qualifying for 2024’s Finals in Germany, and with the future of coach Stephen Kenny in doubt.

“To beat one of the best teams in Europe, you have to see out those difficult periods and we didn’t do that for the second goal,” the under-fire Kenny said.

“We’ve got two matches in October and after that it’s certainly not my decision (to remain manager). We’ll have to see if we have a play-off. There’s still a chance.”

In Tirana, Poland’s bid to qualify for a fifth straight European Championship suffered another blow with a 2-0 loss, their third in five qualifiers.

Albania moved to the top of Group E, two points above the Czech Republic and surprise package Moldova, with Poland two points further behind in fourth.

Jasir Asani, who plays his club football for Gwangju in South Korea, sent Albania on their way to a massive victory with a magnificent left-footed strike from outside the right-hand side of the area.

Mirlind Daku secured the three points by adding a second goal just after the hour mark.

The group’s other game saw Moldova continue their remarkable bid to qualify with a 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands in their first qualifier since shocking Poland in June.

Denmark, semi-finalists at Euro 2020, took a big step towards qualification from Group H as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s 86th-minute strike grabbed a 1-0 away win over Finland.

The Danes jumped a point above their beaten opponents into the top two, level with Slovenia, who saw off San Marino 4-0.

“The goal was a relief and this was a very important win for us. Finland are a good team and they did not make it easy for us,” said Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand.

The top four teams in the group are separated by just a single point, after Kazakhstan kept their bid to reach a maiden major tournament alive with a 1-0 success against Northern Ireland.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a first-half hat-trick as Serbia beat Lithuania 3-1 to stay on course for Euro 2024.

Serbia sit second in Group G, two points ahead of Montenegro, who kept pace thanks to Stevan Jovetic’s 96th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Bulgaria. REUTERS, AFP