Republic of Ireland 1-2 Netherlands: Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst help Dutch come from behind in Euro 2024 qualifier

Wout Weghorst’s second-half strike secured victory for the Netherlands, who had to come back from a goal behind in Ireland.

In the second minute, James McClean’s corner was handled by Virgil van Dijk and Adam Idah sent Mark Flekken the wrong way from the spot.

The lead would only last until the 19th minute when, after a period of pressure from Ireland, the Netherlands netted a penalty of their own.

Cody Gakpo on the break played a perfect through-ball for Denzel Dumfries’ diagonal run and after pushing the ball past Gavin Bazunu he was brought down.

Gakpo then sent the ball just past the despairing left fingertips of Bazunu to level the scores.

The winner was the type any Dutch team down the years would have been proud of, as Frenkie De Jong’s perfect clipped ball over the defence was headed square by Dumfries for Weghorst to guide home first time.

The win keeps the Netherlands leading the race for second place in Group B behind France, while Ireland now have four defeats from their five games.

Positive signs enough for Ireland? – You feel for Stephen Kenny in these two crucial games not being able to call on a world class talent in Evan Ferguson. Now the home game against Greece next month is likely to decide the coach’s fate. There are positive signs. The back three are a solid unit, Josh Cullen and Alan Browne capable in midfield, while in Jason Knight, Chiedozie Ogbene and Adam Idah they have attacking players to dovetail their possibly generational talent at number nine. When Ireland fell behind it did feel like Kenny did not make the necessary personnel and tactical changes until too late in the game. It has come to the point where the Irish football public are looking for results and you get the feeling Kenny may not be afforded the opportunity to break the 24-year wait and return to World Cup in 2026.

Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) – He must be the most dangerous wing-back in world football today. In James McClean he had the most tenacious and dogged opponent for the first hour, but even then he managed to make the two key runs which led to the two Dutch goals. On both occasions he was found by superb passes but he must be a dream to supply these balls too. The cushioned header for Weghorst’s goal, his fifth assist in the first four Dutch games, was exquisitely timed.

Ireland: Bazunu 6; Egan 6, Duffy 7, Collins 6; Doherty 6, Cullen 6, Browne 6, McClean 6; Knight 7, Ogbene 6; Idah 7.

Subs: Manning 6, McGrath 6, Smallbone 6, Ebosele 6, Armstrong 6.

Netherlands: Flekken 6; De Ligt 7, Van Dijk 6, Ake 6; Dumfries 8*, Wieffer6, De Jong 7, Blind 6; Simons 6, Malen 7, Gakpo 7.

Subs: Weghorst 7, Reijnders 6, Koopmeiners 6, Lang 6, Berghuis 6.

2′ PENALTY FOR IRELAND! What a start! The ball struck the arm of van Dijk from the corner.

4′ GOAL FOR IRELAND! A very cool penalty from Idah, sending Flekken the wrong way from the spot.

18′ PENALTY FOR NETHERLANDS! A fantastic ball from Gakpo split the defence and Dumfries running in from the right flank flicked the ball past Bazunu and then was brought down.

19′ GOAL FOR NETHERLANDS! Gakpo strokes it into the inside-netting to Bazunu’s left. Bazunu got a fingertip to it but not enough to divert it wide.

56′ GOAL FOR NETHERLANDS! And a fantastic one. A perfect clipped ball from de Jong for the run of Dumfries he cleverly heads the ball in the direction of Weghorst who clips into the net first time.