Spot-on Van Ginkel cracks Luxembourg resolve
Monday, September 9, 2013
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Luxembourg 0-1 Netherlands
Marco van Ginkel's penalty was all the visitors had to show for their domination in Dudelange as they made it two wins out of two.
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The Netherlands made it two wins from two in qualifying Group 3, but did not make things easy for themselves in Luxembourg.
The 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals contenders dominated throughout, having 31 efforts at goal, but broke through just once, courtesy of captain Marco van Ginkel's first-half penalty. The success leaves the Jong Oranje on six points from two games ahead of their 10 October trip to Georgia, while the hosts are still looking to get off the mark after four outings.
The tone was set from the off as Memphis Depay and Luc Castaignos missed while Kyle Ebecilio tested Luca Ivesic in what was to be a busy night for the Luxembourg goalkeeper. When Anthony Eires brought down Depay in the area and Van Ginkel converted the penalty on 18 minutes it looked as if the visitors would go on to get many more.
However, the hosts refused to fold and frustrated Albert Stuivenberg's men for the rest of the game. Ivesic notably denied Tonny Trindade de Vilhena, Ebecilio and Van Ginkel in the second half while the skipper, Jürgen Locadia and Nathan Aké were all guilty of squandering good openings as the Netherlands failed to add to their score.
