Late goals earn Dutch spot in Nations League finals

Gelsenkirchen (Germany), November 20 

The Netherlands scored twice in the last five minutes to recover from two goals deficit and earn a 2-2 draw against relegated Germany in the Nations League on Monday to secure a spot in next year’s finals ahead of world champions France.

Virgil van Dijk struck a close-range volley in stoppage time to equalise for the visitors after Quincy Promes had cut the deficit in the 85th minute with the Germans having led through early goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane.

Switzerland, England and hosts Portugal had already qualified for the four-team finals in June.

The Dutch topped League A Group 1 despite finishing level on seven points with France due to a better head-to-head record.

The Germans, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the World Cup in June and lost a German record six times this year, finished in last place with just two points.

But their lightning-quick young frontline, nicknamed ‘the moped gang’, looked promising and lived up to their tag as 22-year-olds Werner and Sane, plus Serge Gnabry, 23, terrorised the Dutch defence with their speed. — Reuters