Netherlands 3-2 Ukraine: Denzel Dumfries heads winner to settle thriller

Dates: 11 June-11 July. Venues: Amsterdam, Baku, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome, Seville, St Petersburg. Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC Radio, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. Click here for more detailsDenzel Dumfries headed a dramatic late winner to earn the Netherlands victory after Ukraine had come back from 2-0 down in a Group C thriller in Amsterdam.

Oranje boss Frank de Boer is hoping to use Euro 2020 to prove to fans he is the right man to lead the team into a successful new era after an unconvincing start in the role.

It looked like going to plan for De Boer when Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored eight times in qualifying, pounced from inside the box before Wout Weghorst’s instinctive finish doubled the lead.

But Ukraine pulled one back through Andriy Yarmolenko’s outstanding 25-yard dipping finish and, four minutes later, Roman Yaremchuk headed the equaliser to silence the Dutch fans.

However, Dumfries’ excellent 85th minute header, after substitute Nathan Ake’s cross, earned the Netherlands victory on their return to the major tournament stage after a seven-year absence.

Reaction from Netherland v Ukraine, plus reactionRedemption for De Boer and Netherlands?Meteoric rise of Ukraine captain ZinchenkoHow can I watch Monday’s Euro 2020 matches?Listen: Daily Euros podcastDutch fans held up a banner urging former Ajax player Christian Eriksen to stay strong after he collapsed playing for Denmark on SaturdayWill the Oranje be Euro 2020’s great entertainers?De Boer headed into Euro 2020 on the back of 11 games in charge that have seen five wins, four draws and losses to Mexico and Turkey. Not all fans are convinced he is the right man for the role.

Yet his team of youth and experience showed grit and determination to edge the highest scoring game of the tournament so far – much to the delight of most of the 16,000 fans inside the ground.

While 19-year-old defender Jurrien Timber made just his third appearance for his country, Maarten Stekelenburg started in goal at the age of 38.

It was Stekelenburg’s opposite number, Georgi Bushchan, who looked like frustrating the hosts as he made excellent saves to keep out Memphis Depay and Wijnaldum before the latter opened the scoring, the first of five goals in 33 minutes.

Yarmolenko’s long-range finish to begin Ukraine’s comeback was the pick of the bunch but it was Dumfries’ header that lifted the roof as the Netherlands got their campaign off to a winning start.

What’s next?Both teams are back in action on Thursday. While Ukraine take on North Macedonia in Bucharest at 14:00 BST, the Netherlands entertain Austria in Amsterdam at 20:00.

Player of the match

YarmolenkoAndriy Yarmolenko

with an average of 8.13

NetherlandsSquad number8Player nameWijnaldum

Squad number22Player nameDumfries

Squad number21Player namede Jong

Squad number19Player nameWeghorst

Squad number10Player nameDepay

Squad number6Player namede Vrij

Squad number4Player nameAké

Squad number17Player nameBlind

Squad number12Player namevan Aanholt

Squad number15Player namede Roon

Squad number25Player nameTimber

Squad number1Player nameStekelenburg

Squad number5Player nameWijndal

Squad number9Player namede Jong

Squad number2Player nameVeltman

Squad number18Player nameMalen

UkraineSquad number7Player nameYarmolenko

Squad number9Player nameYaremchuk

Squad number17Player nameZinchenko

Squad number8Player nameMalinovskiy

Squad number5Player nameSydorchuk

Squad number20Player nameZubkov

Squad number10Player nameShaparenko

Squad number16Player nameMykolenko

Squad number22Player nameMatvienko

Squad number1Player nameBushchan

Squad number13Player nameZabarnyi

Squad number21Player nameKaravaev

Squad number11Player nameMarlos

Line-upsNetherlandsFormation 3-4-1-2

1Stekelenburg

25Timber6de Vrij17Blind

22Dumfries15de Roon21de Jong12van Aanholt

8Wijnaldum

19Weghorst10Depay

1Stekelenburg25TimberSubstituted forVeltmanat 88’minutes6de Vrij17BlindSubstituted forAkéat 64’minutes22Dumfries15de Roon21de Jong12van AanholtSubstituted forWijndalat 64’minutes8Wijnaldum19WeghorstSubstituted forde Jongat 88’minutes10DepaySubstituted forMalenat 90+1’minutesSubstitutes2Veltman4Aké5Wijndal7Berghuis9de Jong13Krul14Klaassen16Gravenberch18Malen23Bizot24Koopmeiners26GakpoUkraineFormation 4-3-3

1Bushchan

21Karavaev13Zabarnyi22Matvienko16Mykolenko

8Malinovskiy5Sydorchuk17Zinchenko

7Yarmolenko9Yaremchuk20Zubkov

1Bushchan21Karavaev13Zabarnyi22Matvienko16Mykolenko8Malinovskiy5SydorchukBooked at 90mins17Zinchenko7Yarmolenko9Yaremchuk20ZubkovSubstituted forMarlosat 13’minutesSubstituted forShaparenkoat 64’minutesSubstitutes2Sobol4Kryvtsov6Stepanenko10Shaparenko11Marlos12Pyatov14Makarenko19Besedin23Trubin24Tymchyk25Popov26DovbykReferee:Dr. Felix Brych

Attendance:15,837

Live TextMatch ends, Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2.

Second Half ends, Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2.

Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine).

Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine).

Substitution, Netherlands. Donyell Malen replaces Memphis Depay.

Substitution, Netherlands. Joël Veltman replaces Jurriën Timber.

Substitution, Netherlands. Luuk de Jong replaces Wout Weghorst.

Nathan Aké (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ruslan Malinovskiy (Ukraine).

Goal! Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2. Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nathan Aké with a cross.

Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Roman Yaremchuk (Ukraine).

Goal! Netherlands 2, Ukraine 2. Roman Yaremchuk (Ukraine) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ruslan Malinovskiy with a cross following a set piece situation.

Foul by Stefan de Vrij (Netherlands).

Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ukraine) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt blocked. Nathan Aké (Netherlands) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marten de Roon.

Foul by Owen Wijndal (Netherlands).

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