UEFA U17 European Championships Report: Belgium 0 - 3 Netherlands

Gareth Danaher reports from the Carlisle Grounds

The Netherlands comfortably ran out 3-0 winners over neighbours Belgium at the Carlisle Grounds to advance to the semi-finals of the UEFA under-17 European Championships.

Goals from Sontje Hansen, Anass Salah-Eddine and Ki-Jana Hoever saw the young Dutch side to a comfortable victory in something of a derby game in Bray.

Both sides had equal amount of chances in the opening 15 minutes, with Hansen having the better of them for the Netherlands.

He’d find success in the 27^th minute as Brian Brobbey’s right-footed effort hit the woodwork, and it fell kindly to Hansen who slotted home from five yards.

Belgium didn’t really threaten the Dutch goal after the restart. Liverpool under-18 skipper Ki-Jana Hoever whipped in a floating ball but it failed to find any one.

Five minutes from the half time whistle the Netherlands got their second goal through Anass Salah-Eddine.

Hansen played in a high dangerous cross and Salah-Eddine was there to connect beautifully and his volleyed strike found the bottom right corner of the net.

Things didn’t change too much in the second half as the Netherlands had more of the ball and created early chances from play.

The closest chance came as Mohamed Taabouni played in a neat ball to find Naoufal Bannis who fired his effort over the bar.

The came quick and fast from the Dutch team. Hansen just missing the target but, luckily for the Dutch, it fell to Ian Maatsen who drilled his effort at Vandervoordt.

Bob Browaey’s team looked to put the Oranje under some pressure in the final twenty minutes however it didn’t provide any great opportunities.

Hoever finished the Belgians off in the 73^rd minute as Bobbey played in an intelligent pass to Hansen.

Hansen assisted Hoever who neatly placed his curled shot into the bottom left corner. The Belgian Red Devils were certainly seeing evil now.

The Netherlands will face either Spain or Hungary in the semi-finals following Monday’s meeting at the UCD Bowl.

Belgium: Maarten Vandevoordt; Killian Sardella, Rob Nizet, Marco Kana (Mathais de Wolf 61), Tibo Persyn (Yunus Bahadir 79), Wouter George (Frank  Idumbo-Muzambo 61), François Xavier Engolo, Jérémy Doku, Jérémy Landu, Anouar Ait El Hadj (Ameen Al Dakhil 79), Thibo Baeten (Samuel Asoma 61).

Booked: None.

Subs not used: Senne Lammens (gk), Hugo Siquet.

Netherlands: Calvin Raatsie; Ki-Jana Hoever, Melayro Bogarde, Devyne Rensch, Anass Salah-Eddine, Kenneth Taylor (Joost de Schutter 52), Sontje Hansen, Ian Maatsen (Neraysho Kasanwirjo 83), Brian Brobbey (Soulyman Allouch 83), Mohamed Taabouni, Naoufal Bannis (Mohamed Sankoh 89).

Booked: None.

Subs not used: Tein Troost (gk), Naci Ünüvar, Steven van der Sloot, Dirk Proper, Syb van Ottele.

Attendance: 2,631 (official).

Referee: Rade Obrenovic (Slovenia).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Mohamed Taabouni (Netherlands).