Late goals earn Dutch spot in Nations League finals

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The Netherlands, who failed to qualify for or the last two major tournaments, have secured a spot in next year's Nations League finals ahead of world champions France.

The Dutch scored twice in the last five minutes to recover from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw against relegated Germany on Monday.

Virgil van Dijk struck a superb close-range volley in stoppage time to equalize for the visitors after Quincy Promes had cut the deficit in the 85th minute with the Germans having led through early goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane.

Switzerland, England and hosts Portugal had already qualified for the four-team finals in June.

The Dutch, on the road to recovery under new manager Ronald Koeman after failing to World Cup 2018 and Euro 2016, topped League A Group 1 despite finishing level on seven points with France due to a better head-to-head record.

The Germans, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the World Cup in June and lost a German record six times this year, finished in last place with just two points after what has become a familiar lack of focus this year.

Holland's Virgil van Dijk celebrates his last-gasp equalizer during their Nations league clash against Germany at the Veltins Arena, November 19. /VCG Photo

However, their quick young front line, nicknamed "the moped gang,", looked promising and lived up to their tag as 22-year-olds Werner and Sane, plus Serge Gnabry, 23, frightened the Dutch defense with their speed, especially in the first half.

They had already shown their potential in a 3-0 friendly win over Russia on Thursday as coach Joachim Loew made changes after Germany's World Cup flop and Nations League relegation.

The Germans took the lead after nine minutes when Werner controlled a pass with his head and then fired a precise low shot into the corner of the net from 20 meters.

Sane finished an almost identical move in the 20th, latching onto a deep Toni Kroos pass and drilling in the second goal of the evening with a deflected shot from the edge of the box.

Gnabry almost got a third with a glancing header in the 40th and Werner outsprinted his marker only to fire wide on the hour as the Dutch struggled to contain their opponents and remained toothless up front until Promes got them back in the game.

They then earned a last-gasp equalizer through Van Dijk to book their spot in the new competition's finals in Portugal.

Source(s): Reuters