Netherlands Blow Lead Against Spain in Nations League Quarterfinal First Leg
In a dramatic first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, the Netherlands squandered a lead to draw 2-2 with Spain, despite playing the final minutes with ten men. The dismissal of Ajax defender Jorrel Hato proved costly for the Dutch, who had fought back from an early deficit to take the lead.
Spain opened the scoring through Nico Williams, but the Netherlands responded with goals from Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders. However, the red card to Hato shifted the momentum, and Spain capitalized with a late equalizer to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg.
Nations League 2024-2025
Netherlands - Spain 2:2 (1:1)
Goals: Nico Williams, 9 (0:1); Gakpo, 28 (1:1); Reijnders, 46 (2:1); Merino, 93 (2:2)
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Geertruida; van Dijk; Hato (till 81); van Hecke; Frimpong J.; de Jong F. (Koopmeiners T., 74); Reijnders (Wieffer, 90); Depay (de Ligt, 84); Gakpo; Kluivert (Simons Xavi, 74)
Bench: Olij; Flekken; Baas Y.; Taylor Ke.; Lang N.; Brobbey; Malen
Yellow Cards: Gakpo 45; van Dijk 79
Red cards: Hato 81'
Spain: Simón U.; Porro; Cubarsí (Huijsen, 41); Le Normand; Cucurella; Fabian Ruiz (Merino, 84); Zubimendi; Yamal (Oyarzabal, 66); Morata (Perez A., 66); Nico Williams; Pedri (Olmo, 66)
Bench: Raya; Remiro; Grimaldo; Mingueza; Aleix Garcia; Álex Baena; Aghehowa
Yellow Cards: Huijsen 61; Perez A. 72
