Blaise Matuidi scored with three minutes remaining as France recovered
from a Netherlands comeback to win 3-2 in Amsterdam on Friday in a match
that saw both teams pay tribute to Johan Cruyff
Blaise Matuidi scored with three
minutes remaining as France recovered from a Netherlands comeback to
win 3-2 in Amsterdam on Friday in a match that saw both teams pay
tribute to Johan Cruyff.
The sides honoured Dutch
great Cruyff, who died on Thursday, by stopping the game for a period of
applause in the minute of his iconic old shirt number – 14.
France
were already two goals ahead by that point thanks to Antoine
Griezmann's brilliant free-kick and a clinical finish from Olivier
Giroud, who has now scored four times in as many games for his country.
Netherlands
improved after the break and Luuk de Jong's controversial goal – which
appeared to be a handball – gave them hope and substitute Ibrahim
Afellay looked to have rescued a draw late on with a low
86th-minute strike.
But Didier Deschamps' men were
not to be denied an away win, with Matuidi almost immediately scoring
from a tight angle in a dramatic finale.
France
have now tasted victory in six of their last seven international matches
as they prepare to host Euro 2016 from June, while Netherlands – who
did not qualify for the tournament – have suffered four consecutive home
defeats.
The away side immediately seized
control, with Dimitri Payet's long-range effort beaten away by Jasper
Cillessen before the visitors took the lead after six minutes.
Griezmann
had won a free-kick in a central position just outside the box for a
foul by Davy Klaassen and took it himself, arrowing a brilliant effort
into the top corner.
It was soon 2-0 when a Payet
corner was only half cleared and headed back into the box by Matuidi,
allowing Giroud to convert with a first-time volley from just outside
the six-yard box.
Griezmann could have had a
hat-trick before half-time – he was inches over with one diving header
and was then denied by Cillessen's feet as he headed another attempt
towards goal from Payet's curling cross.
Matuidi
was denied a penalty after what he felt was an illegal block by Jeffrey
Bruma at the corner of the box, while Quincy Promes' drive was
comfortably saved by Steve Mandanda at the other end in the hosts' only
attempt of a first half that also saw captain Wesley Sneijder taken off
due to injury.
Netherlands made a further two
changes at half-time, while France switched three players as Leicester
City midfielder N'Golo Kante was handed his debut.
But
it was one of the hosts' new faces who made an instant impact, with
substitute Memphis Depay's curling free-kick bundled over the line by De
Jong's arm fewer than two minutes into the second half.
Mandanda
got down well to keep out Klaassen's header as Netherlands continued to
improve significantly and the midfielder volleyed wide from another
decent opening.
France responded, though, as the
impressive Payet almost restored the two-goal lead with a dipping
right-footed effort that struck the foot of the post from 25 yards.
The
match appeared to be drifting towards a narrow away win, but
Netherlands struck in the closing stages. Depay helped himself to his
second assist of the game with a clever low corner to the edge of the
box that allowed Afellay to sweep home into the bottom corner.
But
in an astonishing finish, France went straight up the other end and
secured victory. Payet worked a pass out to substitute Anthony Martial,
who in turn slipped a ball through to Matuidi and he finished
past Cillessen from a tight angle.
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