Dutch, beset by injuries, again fail to beat Belgium in Lowlands derby

Photo: Depositphotos.com

The Dutch national football team have again failed to beat Belgium after Wednesday night’s Lowlands derby ended 1-1 at the Arena stadium in Amsterdam.

The two sides have met 126 times in the Derby der Lage Landen but Oranje have not beaten the Red Devils for 20 years.

Oranje took the lead eight minutes before the break after Davy Klaassen scored from 11 metres out. Belgium upped the pressure in the second half, nearly scoring several times in the last 15 minutes before Yannick Carrasco equalised.

The Dutch team, which has been beset by injuries, was further depleted by a calf injury for Stijn Schaars, who returned to the Dutch squad after 2.5 years. Vincent Janssen was put out after a collision with Belgium’s keeper and Jeremain Lens failed to return to the pitch after half time due to a hamstring injury.

‘It is unbelievable,’ coach Danny Blind told broadcaster SBS6. Oranje take on Luxemburg on Sunday and ‘Lens is a no go, and Janssen might be the same,’ Blind said. ‘We have to wait and see about Van Schaars.’

The match was also Wesley Sneijder’s 125th cap for the Netherlands.

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