Euro 2020 Report: Netherlands 2 - 0 Austria

Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring the Dutch side's first goal against Austria at Johan Cruijff Arena

Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring the Dutch side's first goal against Austria at Johan Cruijff Arena Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)

The Netherlands were made to work hard for their win against Austria at the Johann Crujff ArenA in Amsterdam on Thursday night.

De Oranje they had enough class and strength in depth to still record a reasonably comfortable 2-0 win that puts them top of Group C and thus qualified for the last 16 with a game to spare.

Memphis Depay, from the penalty spot, and Denzel Dumfries scored in either half as Frank De Boer’s side made it two wins from two.

The Netherlands got off to the best possible start with a goal from a penalty after only 10 minutes. David Alaba fouled Dumfries just inside the box.

Referee Orel Grinfeld consulted with VAR before making the decision but video evidence was clear. Memphis stepped up and despatched the penalty kick with confidence.

The Dutch proceeded to dominate the game for the next 20 minutes, without really trying to press home their territorial advantage.

Gradually Austria came back into the game through the hard work of Xaver Schlager and Konrad Laimer in midfield.

They were limited up front, however, and neither Marcel Sabitzer or Michael Gregoritsch made much of an impression against a very solid Dutch backline.

Netherlands did finish the first half very strongly however and should have been at least 2-0 up by half time.

Woot Wewghorst set up Depay with a chance five minutes before the break but the striker stabbed it wide.



Wewghorst could well have taken the shot himself, as he seemed to be in a better position, but he chose to pass and the opportunity was missed.

Three minutes later Depay was in space again inside the box but he delayed his shot and his effort hit off a defender before being cleared.

Austria did make a bright start to the second half. Sasa Kalajdzic and Florian Grillitsch, who were introduced on the hour mark, added a bit more potency in the attacking third.

De Boer was quick to counteract Austrian manager Franco Foda’s changes and it was one of the players he introduced who set up the decisive second goal in the 65th minute.

Donyell Malen came on for Weghorst up front and his lighting pace was immediately evident as he received the ball inside the half way line and burst past the Austrian defence.

The PSV man unselfishly squaring the ball to an equally fleet-footed Dumfries, who easily beat Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann in the Austrian goal for his second in as many games.



The Austrians, to their credit, never gave up trying. They had a number of half chances, including a piledriver from Alaba ten minutes from time.

But they never seriously threatened the Dutch defence, for whom Matthijs de Ligt was outstanding throughout.

De Boer’s side take on pointless North Macedonia in their final group fixture and may rest many of their starting 11 in anticipation of a tougher test in their last 16 tie.

Netherlands: Maarten Stekenburg; Patrick Van Aanholt (Owen Wijndal 65), Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries, Daley Blind (Nathan Ake 64); Georginio Wijnaldum ©, Marten de Roon (Ryan Gravenberch 73), Frankie de Jong; Woot Weghorst (Donyell Malen 64) Memphis Depay (Luuk de Jong 82).

Subs not used:  Tim Krul (gk), Marco Bizot (gk), Teun Koopmeiners, Davy Klaassen, Cody Gakpo, Steven Berghuis, Joel Veltman, Jurrien Timber, Quincy Promes.

Booked: Martin de Roon (13).

Austria: Daniel Bachmann; Andreas Ulmer, Stefan Lainer, Martin Hinteregger, Aleksander Dragovic (Phillip Lienhard 83); Xaver Schlager (Karim Onisiwo 84) Konrad Laimer (Florian Grillitsch 61), Christoph Baumgartner (Valentino Lazara 69); David Alaba©, Marcel Sabitzer, Michael Gregoritsch (Sasa Kalajdzic 61).

Subs not used: Aleksander Schlager (gk), Pavao Pervan (gk), Christopher Trimmel, Stefan Posch, Marco Friedl, Allessandro Schopf, Louis Schaub, Stefan Ilsanker, Julian Baumgartlinger.

Booked: David Alaba (10).

Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel).

Attendance: 15,243.

Extratime.com Player of the Match: Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands).

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