Netherlands Edge Serbia 2-1 to Take Control of Nations League Group

Joshua Zirkzee found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box in the 71st minute on October 4, 2026, and the Manchester United forward did not miss. His simple tap-in broke a stubborn deadlock at the Philips Stadion, securing a 2-1 victory for the Netherlands over Serbia. The result pushes Xavi Hernández’s squad to the top of their UEFA Nations League group.[1][2][4]

The decisive sequence began out wide, where Denzel Dumfries and Tijjani Reijnders combined to dismantle the Serbian defensive block. Reijnders laid the ball perfectly across the face of the goal, leaving Zirkzee to restore the Dutch lead.[3][5][6]

"Probably the easiest goal he will ever score," noted VAVEL match commentators as they watched the replay. The forward simply had to tap the ball into an empty net to capitalize on the team's overwhelming 65 percent possession.[3][5]

Serbia had refused to fold quietly after falling behind earlier in the evening. Just four minutes after Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring for the hosts with a 31st-minute free kick, the visitors struck back. Aleksa Terzić whipped a precise delivery from the left flank, finding 19-year-old Anderlecht striker Mihajlo Cvetković.[2][4]

Cvetković guided a header past Bart Verbruggen into the far corner to level the match. That rapid response exposed a recurring vulnerability for the Dutch side, marking the third goal the Netherlands have conceded in the final 15 minutes of the first half during this Nations League campaign.[2][4]

No other team in the 2026-27 competition has surrendered more goals in that specific window. The defensive lapse kept Serbia firmly in the contest, allowing them to threaten on the counter despite being outshot 22 to 14 overall.[2][5]

The hosts dominated the underlying metrics, generating 2.75 expected goals and forcing Serbian goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić into four critical saves. Koopmeiners dictated the tempo from the midfield, logging 92 touches and 16 ball carries to keep the pressure simmering.[2][5]

The match also served as a landmark occasion for Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who earned his 100th international cap. The veteran center-back anchored a defense that was tested heavily in the closing stages, making nine clearances on the night.[1][2][5]

The final minutes delivered pure chaos, culminating in a spectacular stoppage-time sequence. Serbian midfielder Nemanja Gudelj unleashed a thunderous, curling strike from nearly 30 meters out that looked destined for the top corner.[3]

Verbruggen fully stretched to palm the effort away, preserving the three points in a sequence that even saw Milinković-Savić sprint up for the resulting corner kick. The victory came at a physical cost for the hosts, who finished the match with ten men.[1][3]

Defender Micky van de Ven was forced off with a hand injury late in the game, and Xavi had already exhausted his allotted substitutions. The Dutch backline held firm regardless, securing their first home victory of the current Nations League cycle.[1][3]

With the win, the Netherlands climb to eight points, sitting joint top of Group A2 alongside Greece, whom they lead on goal difference. Serbia remain anchored to the bottom of the table with zero points after four consecutive defeats.[1][4]