Netherlands at risk of qualification disaster after shock defeat to Iceland
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ByEurosport
Updated 03/09/2015 at 22:10 GMT
Euro 2016 qualifying Group A, Amsterdam Arena: Netherlands 0 Iceland 1 (Sigurdsson pen 51)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (L) of Iceland scores a penalty against goalkeeper Jasper Cillesen of the Netherlands during their Euro 2016 qualifying
Image credit: Reuters
Iceland struck another blow at the Netherlands' hope of qualification for Euro 2016 with a slender 1-0 win in Amsterdam.
Iceland came closest to scoring in the first half with a chance that fell to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, in space in the middle of the box, and he could not make enough contact from close range.
The Netherlands lost their iconic striker Arjen Robben with what looked like to be a groin injury on the half-hour, and replaced him with Luciano Narsingh.
Two minutes later, things went from bad to worse when Bruno Martins Indi was sent off after a tussle with Kolbein Sigthorsson in which the Netherlands player appeared to swing out an arm across his opponent's throat while entangled on the ground. Danny Blind immediately sacrificed Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to bring on a substitute defender, Jeffrey Bruma.
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Arjen Robben of the Netherlands (C) fights for the ball with Birkir Bjarnason of Iceland during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match in Amsterdam, the Netherlands September 3, 2015. REUTERS/Michael Kooren
Image credit: Reuters
Iceland finally took the lead in the 51st minute when Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a penalty after Birkir Bjarnason was brought down by Gregory van der Wiel.
Observers may question Blind's choices of substitution, opting to leave Robin van Persie on the bench even when his side were chasing a goal.
In return, he may point to the chances his side created, with Memphis and stand-in captain Wesley Sneijder linking up well.
However, despite the Netherlands' pressure, Iceland made the most of their extra man and clung on for the win.
KEY MOMENTS
7' CHANCE! Great ball in from Skulason, cut back at the far post and how does Bodvarsson miss that in the centre? The goalkeeper is off his line and he just needed a touch on that!
26' INJURY! Robben seems to be struggling - he's limped off to the sidelines to have some treatment.
32' RED CARD! I have no idea what's going on here. Martins Indi has been shown the red card after some slapping on the ground in a challenge with Sigthorsson, who grabs his face. It's all a bit pathetic, and the Iceland player gets a booking for his part in this nonsense.
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of the Netherlands (L) fights for the ball with Ari Skulason of Iceland during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match in Amsterdam, the Netherlands September 3, 2015. REUTERS/Michael Kooren TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Image credit: Reuters
51' GOAL! Cillessen gets his hands to Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty but doesn't do well enough.
54' POST! Gudmundsson curls his shot which hammers off the upright.
76' CHANCE! Oh, and Gudmundsson is in so much space at the far post, but he volleys high at an acute angle.
KEY STATISTICS
Jasper Cillessen had kept a clean sheet for 604 minutes (club and country) before conceding his 25th penalty.
Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored three of the seven goals the Netherlands conceded in the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
The Netherlands have won only one of their last nine games in which they had a player sent off (vs Andorra in 2005).
Stats courtesy of @OptaJohan.
TALKING POINT
What next for Danny Blind? Time is running out if his team are going to make anything of this campaign - just three matches left to turn things round. As it is, he's helmed the first home defeat in qualifying for the Netherlands in 15 years.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) - Three goals against the Netherlands in this qualifying campaign, they must be sick of the sight of him.
RATINGS
Netherlands - Cillessen 6, Van der Wiel 6, De Vrij 6, Martins Indi 4, Blind 6, Klaassen 5, Wijnaldum 5, Sneijder 7, Depay 7, Huntelaar 6, Robben 5. Subs - Krul, Zoet, Tete, Bruma 6, Riedewald, Kongolo, Anita, Promes 6, Narsingh 6, de Jong, van Persie.
Iceland - Halldórsson 7, R Sigurdsson 7, Árnason 7, B Skúlason 7, Bjarnason 7, G Sigurdsson 8, Bödvarsson 6, Gunnarsson 7, Gudmundsson 7, Sigthórsson 7. Subs: Kristinnsson, Gunnleifsson, Jonasson Jónsson, Ottesen, Sigurjónsson, Bjarnason, Gíslason, O Skúlason 6, Finnbogason 6, Kjartansson, Gudjohnsen 6.
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