Netherlands 3-2 Ukraine: Denzel Dumfries heads winner to settle thriller

By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport

Last updated on 13 June 2021.From the section European Championship396

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Denzel Dumfries headed a dramatic late winner to earn the Netherlands victory after Ukraine had come back from 2-0 down in a Group C thriller in Amsterdam.

Oranje boss Frank de Boer is hoping to use Euro 2020 to prove to fans he is the right man to lead the team into a successful new era after an unconvincing start in the role.

It looked like going to plan for De Boer when Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored eight times in qualifying, pounced from inside the box before Wout Weghorst's instinctive finish doubled the lead.

But Ukraine pulled one back through Andriy Yarmolenko's outstanding 25-yard dipping finish and, four minutes later, Roman Yaremchuk headed the equaliser to silence the Dutch fans.

However, Dumfries' excellent 85th minute header, after substitute Nathan Ake's cross, earned the Netherlands victory on their return to the major tournament stage after a seven-year absence.

Fans displayed a flag urging Denmark's Christian Eriksen, who started his professional career at Ajax, to stay strong after he collapsed the previous day — Dutch fans held up a banner urging former Ajax player Christian Eriksen to stay strong after he collapsed playing for Denmark on Saturday

Will the Oranje be Euro 2020's great entertainers?

De Boer headed into Euro 2020 on the back of 11 games in charge that have seen five wins, four draws and losses to Mexico and Turkey. Not all fans are convinced he is the right man for the role.

Yet his team of youth and experience showed grit and determination to edge the highest scoring game of the tournament so far - much to the delight of most of the 16,000 fans inside the ground.

While 19-year-old defender Jurrien Timber made just his third appearance for his country, Maarten Stekelenburg started in goal at the age of 38.

It was Stekelenburg's opposite number, Georgi Bushchan, who looked like frustrating the hosts as he made excellent saves to keep out Memphis Depay and Wijnaldum before the latter opened the scoring, the first of five goals in 33 minutes.

Yarmolenko's long-range finish to begin Ukraine's comeback was the pick of the bunch but it was Dumfries' header that lifted the roof as the Netherlands got their campaign off to a winning start.

What's next?

Both teams are back in action on Thursday. While Ukraine take on North Macedonia in Bucharest at 14:00 BST, the Netherlands entertain Austria in Amsterdam at 20:00.

Player of the match

YarmolenkoAndriy Yarmolenko

with an average of 8.13

Netherlands
Ukraine

Netherlands

Squad number8Player nameWijnaldum
Average rating
8.10
Squad number22Player nameDumfries
Average rating
7.66
Squad number21Player nameF de Jong
Average rating
7.65
Squad number19Player nameWeghorst
Average rating
7.15
Squad number10Player nameDepay
Average rating
6.99
Squad number6Player namede Vrij
Average rating
6.87
Squad number4Player nameAké
Average rating
6.76
Squad number17Player nameBlind
Average rating
6.68
Squad number12Player namevan Aanholt
Average rating
6.67
Squad number15Player namede Roon
Average rating
6.66
Squad number25Player nameTimber
Average rating
6.59
Squad number1Player nameStekelenburg
Average rating
6.49
Squad number5Player nameWijndal
Average rating
6.45
Squad number9Player nameL de Jong
Average rating
6.43
Squad number2Player nameVeltman
Average rating
6.35
Squad number18Player nameMalen
Average rating
6.35

Ukraine

Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko
Average rating
8.13
Squad number9Player nameYaremchuk
Average rating
7.89
Squad number17Player nameZinchenko
Average rating
7.62
Squad number8Player nameMalinovskiy
Average rating
7.24
Squad number5Player nameSydorchuk
Average rating
6.97
Squad number20Player nameZubkov
Average rating
6.87
Squad number10Player nameShaparenko
Average rating
6.81
Squad number16Player nameMykolenko
Average rating
6.77
Squad number22Player nameMatvienko
Average rating
6.75
Squad number1Player nameBushchan
Average rating
6.67
Squad number13Player nameZabarnyi
Average rating
6.66
Squad number21Player nameKaravaev
Average rating
6.61
Squad number11Player nameMarlos
Average rating
6.22

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Netherlands

Formation 3-4-1-2

1Stekelenburg
25TimberSubstituted forVeltmanat 88'minutes
6de Vrij
17BlindSubstituted forAkéat 64'minutes
22Dumfries
15de Roon
21F de Jong
12van AanholtSubstituted forWijndalat 64'minutes
8Wijnaldum
19WeghorstSubstituted forL de Jongat 88'minutes
10DepaySubstituted forMalenat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

2Veltman
4Aké
5Wijndal
7Berghuis
9L de Jong
13Krul
14Klaassen
16Gravenberch
18Malen
23Bizot
24Koopmeiners
26Gakpo

Ukraine

Formation 4-3-3

1Bushchan
21Karavaev
13Zabarnyi
22Matvienko
16Mykolenko
8Malinovskiy
5SydorchukBooked at 90mins
17Zinchenko
7Yarmolenko
9Yaremchuk
20ZubkovSubstituted forMarlosat 13'minutesSubstituted forShaparenkoat 64'minutes

Substitutes

2Sobol
4Kryvtsov
6Stepanenko
10Shaparenko
11Marlos
12Pyatov
14Makarenko
19Besedin
23Trubin
24Tymchyk
25Popov
26Dovbyk

Referee:: Dr. Felix Brych
Attendance:: 15,837

Match Stats

Home TeamNetherlandsAway TeamUkraine

Possession: Home62%; Away38%

Shots: Home15; Away7

Shots on Target: Home7; Away5

Corners: Home5; Away1

Fouls: Home8; Away8

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2.

90'+3'
Booking
Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'
Post update
Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine).
90'+1'
Post update
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Serhiy Sydorchuk (Ukraine).
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Donyell Malen replaces Memphis Depay.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Joël Veltman replaces Jurriën Timber.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Netherlands. Luuk de Jong replaces Wout Weghorst.
87'
Post update
Nathan Aké (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'
Post update
Foul by Ruslan Malinovskiy (Ukraine).
85'
Goal!
Goal! Netherlands 3, Ukraine 2. Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nathan Aké with a cross.
84'
Post update
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84'
Post update
Foul by Roman Yaremchuk (Ukraine).
79'
Goal!
Goal! Netherlands 2, Ukraine 2. Roman Yaremchuk (Ukraine) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ruslan Malinovskiy with a cross following a set piece situation.
78'
Post update
Foul by Stefan de Vrij (Netherlands).
78'
Post update
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ukraine) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
78'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathan Aké (Netherlands) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marten de Roon.
76'
Post update
Foul by Owen Wijndal (Netherlands).

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Comments

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396 comments

Comment posted by jake1234, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021
Now that was entertaining, woke me from the comatose condition I was in after the England game.
Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:03 13 Jun 2021
LondonsFinestClub replied:
A proper open game. Great entertainment and technically very good football. Very enjoyable fare.
Comment posted by PMDawson90, at 22:14 13 Jun 2021
Shout out to Ally McCoist for some great commentary. ITV making a mockery of BBC's coverage
Reply posted by rollockstothis, at 22:38 13 Jun 2021
rollockstothis replied:
You mean with Clive Tyldesley aka the worst and most boring commentator of all time.
Comment posted by pjv90, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021
That second half reminded my why I love this sport so much! Absolutely thrilling. It's so nice to see the Dutch back in a major tournament.
Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:54 13 Jun 2021
Viva Espana replied:
Is total football coming home to the Netherlands?
Comment posted by kalista, at 21:56 13 Jun 2021
Best game of the tournament, so far.
What a game.
Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 23:09 13 Jun 2021
The Spin Doctor replied:
One could also say what happened to both defences in the 2nd half. Great game nevertheless.
Comment posted by insideright, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021
Proper tourney football! None of this keep passing backwards, possession is everything, don't take a risk in final third, only have 2 shots on goal tripe! Highly entertaining!
Comment posted by MoojiBoojiBoojiMooji, at 22:24 13 Jun 2021
TV commentary was really good - kudos to the team at ITV
Reply posted by PMDawson90, at 22:32 13 Jun 2021
PMDawson90 replied:
Really shines light on how tragic the BBC's coverage is. Awful insight, dreadful commentary by the Beeb.

And don't get me started on MOTDx. Cringeworthy nonsense.
Comment posted by over, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021
Why is it that teams like Netherlands with a much smaller population than Eng can turn on the Total Football (not always but often enough) whereas time after time we serve up boredom ?

Nod to Ukraine. It takes two to tango
Reply posted by roverman, at 22:22 13 Jun 2021
roverman replied:
This was an evening kickoff. The dutch wouldn't have played like this in 30 degree heat
Comment posted by Ben, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021
Great to have a thriller after the typical England snoozefest.
Reply posted by D1710531329042, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021
D1710531329042 replied:
Southgate is a btec Simeone
Comment posted by goldfish4, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021
Cracking game to watch as a neutral but must have been heartbraking for the Ukraine fans.
Comment posted by Skalidis, at 22:11 13 Jun 2021
Got back home for the second half. Five goals in 45 minutes...can't complain!
Comment posted by Toffeessupporter, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021
Great entertainment but what did the Ukraine 🇺🇦 goalkeeper have in his half time cuppa? Unbeatable in first half, a nightmare in second.

Both poor at back, eaten up later.
Reply posted by magicrm, at 13:25 14 Jun 2021
magicrm replied:
Cash?
Comment posted by Sao Miguel, at 22:12 13 Jun 2021
Loved the referee Felix Brych, he stood no nonsense with the divers. I would not play Grealish if he was the referee.
Reply posted by Gav, at 22:25 13 Jun 2021
Gav replied:
Most of the refs have been like that this tournament. Letting the game flow and taking no nonsense. Good respect between all players too from what I've seen.
Comment posted by David McManus, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021
Excellent, exciting game. Well done to both teams
Comment posted by Wesley, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021
Thought that the Dutch looked great going forward. Impressive how comfortable they looked receiving the ball in tight areas and how quickly they moved it around. Ukraine played their part in the best game of the tournament so far.
Comment posted by Hitlersoneballsack, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021
Well played Netherlands! unlucky Ukraine! but one thing is for sure Ukraine will defo go through from this group playing like that.
Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:56 13 Jun 2021
Viva Espana replied:
Arnie may have a different opinion on that
Comment posted by elmike, at 22:26 13 Jun 2021
Best game so far. Hopefully this ignites the tournament.
Reply posted by ME, at 06:08 14 Jun 2021
ME replied:
Hopefully the tournament gets cancelled
Comment posted by UnknownNumber, at 21:59 13 Jun 2021
Looking at the groups before the tournament I didn't expect group C to give us the two best matches so far. Great day of football!
Comment posted by goochs 333, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021
proper game not like the boring england rubbish
Reply posted by Doug, at 09:07 14 Jun 2021
Doug replied:
We get it. You hate intelligent, urbane players and managers and booed the knee.
Comment posted by Cream-of-the-Barley, at 23:49 13 Jun 2021
If playing in heat means boring football, why oh why is the World Cup going to Qatar?
Reply posted by top bloke, at 23:57 13 Jun 2021
top bloke replied:
Big Bungs?
Comment posted by Delphi, at 22:34 13 Jun 2021
Rip roaring game, a credit to both sides. Entertainment.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	England	8	7	0	1	37	6	31	21
2	Czech Rep	8	5	0	3	13	11	2	15
3	Kosovo	8	3	2	3	13	16	-3	11
4	Bulgaria	8	1	3	4	6	17	-11	6
5	Montenegro	8	0	3	5	3	22	-19	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Ukraine	8	6	2	0	17	4	13	20
2	Portugal	8	5	2	1	22	6	16	17
3	Serbia	8	4	2	2	17	17	0	14
4	Luxembourg	8	1	1	6	7	16	-9	4
5	Lithuania	8	0	1	7	5	25	-20	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Germany	8	7	0	1	30	7	23	21
2	Netherlands	8	6	1	1	24	7	17	19
3	Northern Ireland	8	4	1	3	9	13	-4	13
4	Belarus	8	1	1	6	4	16	-12	4
5	Estonia	8	0	1	7	2	26	-24	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Switzerland	8	5	2	1	19	6	13	17
2	Denmark	8	4	4	0	23	6	17	16
3	Republic of Ireland	8	3	4	1	7	5	2	13
4	Georgia	8	2	2	4	7	11	-4	8
5	Gibraltar	8	0	0	8	3	31	-28	0

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Croatia	8	5	2	1	17	7	10	17
2	Wales	8	4	2	2	10	6	4	14
3	Slovakia	8	4	1	3	13	11	2	13
4	Hungary	8	4	0	4	8	11	-3	12
5	Azerbaijan	8	0	1	7	5	18	-13	1

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Spain	10	8	2	0	31	5	26	26
2	Sweden	10	6	3	1	23	9	14	21
3	Norway	10	4	5	1	19	11	8	17
4	Romania	10	4	2	4	17	15	2	14
5	Faroe Islands	10	1	0	9	4	30	-26	3
6	Malta	10	1	0	9	3	27	-24	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Poland	10	8	1	1	18	5	13	25
2	Austria	10	6	1	3	19	9	10	19
3	North Macedonia	10	4	2	4	12	13	-1	14
4	Slovenia	10	4	2	4	16	11	5	14
5	Israel	10	3	2	5	16	18	-2	11
6	Latvia	10	1	0	9	3	28	-25	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	France	10	8	1	1	25	6	19	25
2	Turkey	10	7	2	1	18	3	15	23
3	Iceland	10	6	1	3	14	11	3	19
4	Albania	10	4	1	5	16	14	2	13
5	Andorra	10	1	1	8	3	20	-17	4
6	Moldova	10	1	0	9	4	26	-22	3

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Belgium	10	10	0	0	40	3	37	30
2	Football Union of Russia	10	8	0	2	33	8	25	24
3	Scotland	10	5	0	5	16	19	-3	15
4	Cyprus	10	3	1	6	15	20	-5	10
5	Kazakhstan	10	3	1	6	13	17	-4	10
6	San Marino	10	0	0	10	1	51	-50	0

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Italy	10	10	0	0	37	4	33	30
2	Finland	10	6	0	4	16	10	6	18
3	Greece	10	4	2	4	12	14	-2	14
4	Bos-Herze	10	4	1	5	20	17	3	13
5	Armenia	10	3	1	6	14	25	-11	10
6	Liechtenstein	10	0	2	8	2	31	-29	2

Will the Oranje be Euro 2020's great entertainers?

What's next?

Netherlands

Avg

Ukraine

Avg

Line-ups

Netherlands

Substitutes

Ukraine

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by jake1234, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021jake1234

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:03 13 Jun 2021LondonsFinestClub

Comment posted by PMDawson90, at 22:14 13 Jun 2021PMDawson90

Reply posted by rollockstothis, at 22:38 13 Jun 2021rollockstothis

Comment posted by pjv90, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021pjv90

Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:54 13 Jun 2021Viva Espana

Comment posted by kalista, at 21:56 13 Jun 2021kalista

Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 23:09 13 Jun 2021The Spin Doctor

Comment posted by insideright, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021insideright

Comment posted by MoojiBoojiBoojiMooji, at 22:24 13 Jun 2021MoojiBoojiBoojiMooji

Reply posted by PMDawson90, at 22:32 13 Jun 2021PMDawson90

Comment posted by over, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021over

Reply posted by roverman, at 22:22 13 Jun 2021roverman

Comment posted by Ben, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021Ben

Reply posted by D1710531329042, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021D1710531329042

Comment posted by goldfish4, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021goldfish4

Comment posted by Skalidis, at 22:11 13 Jun 2021Skalidis

Comment posted by Toffeessupporter, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021Toffeessupporter

Reply posted by magicrm, at 13:25 14 Jun 2021magicrm

Comment posted by Sao Miguel, at 22:12 13 Jun 2021Sao Miguel

Reply posted by Gav, at 22:25 13 Jun 2021Gav

Comment posted by David McManus, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021David McManus

Comment posted by Wesley, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021Wesley

Comment posted by Hitlersoneballsack, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021Hitlersoneballsack

Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:56 13 Jun 2021Viva Espana

Comment posted by elmike, at 22:26 13 Jun 2021elmike

Reply posted by ME, at 06:08 14 Jun 2021ME

Comment posted by UnknownNumber, at 21:59 13 Jun 2021UnknownNumber

Comment posted by goochs 333, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021goochs 333

Reply posted by Doug, at 09:07 14 Jun 2021Doug

Comment posted by Cream-of-the-Barley, at 23:49 13 Jun 2021Cream-of-the-Barley

Reply posted by top bloke, at 23:57 13 Jun 2021top bloke

Comment posted by Delphi, at 22:34 13 Jun 2021Delphi

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 13th June 2021

Group C

Group D

As It Stood

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

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Comment posted by jake1234, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 22:03 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by PMDawson90, at 22:14 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by rollockstothis, at 22:38 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by pjv90, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:54 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by kalista, at 21:56 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 23:09 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by insideright, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by MoojiBoojiBoojiMooji, at 22:24 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by PMDawson90, at 22:32 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by over, at 22:19 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by roverman, at 22:22 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Ben, at 22:01 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by D1710531329042, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by goldfish4, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Skalidis, at 22:11 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Toffeessupporter, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by magicrm, at 13:25 14 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Sao Miguel, at 22:12 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by Gav, at 22:25 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by David McManus, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Wesley, at 22:17 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Hitlersoneballsack, at 21:57 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by Viva Espana, at 22:56 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by elmike, at 22:26 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by ME, at 06:08 14 Jun 2021

Comment posted by UnknownNumber, at 21:59 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by goochs 333, at 22:10 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by Doug, at 09:07 14 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Cream-of-the-Barley, at 23:49 13 Jun 2021

Reply posted by top bloke, at 23:57 13 Jun 2021

Comment posted by Delphi, at 22:34 13 Jun 2021