The Netherlands missed out on beating Spain in the first quarter-final match of the League of Nations, Topsport reported.
The clash at "De Kuip" ended in a 2:2 draw, although the "Tulips" led until the 93rd minute.
Nico Williams gave Spain the lead in the 9th minute, and the hosts equalized in the 28th minute through Gakpo. Tijjani Reinders made the turnaround in the 46th minute, but in the 82nd minute the Netherlands was left with a man less after the expulsion of Jorel Hatto. In the 90+3' Mikel Merino scored an equalizer and left the outcome for the second leg.
The guests opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Yamal stole the ball and passed to Pedri in the penalty area. The midfielder looked for Nico Williams, who overcame a defender in orange and scored from close range for 0:1.
The hosts responded with a miss by Van Dijk after a cross from a corner. In the 28th minute, the Netherlands equalized when Kluivert controlled a cross and found Cody Gakpo. He scored after a strong shot into the near corner for 1:1.
In the 36th minute, "La Furia" goalkeeper Unai Simon saved a shot by Memphis Depay. At the end of the first half, Pau Kubarsi was injured and forced to leave the field. The defender was replaced by Dean Huysen, for whom this was his debut with the European champion team.
Before a minute had passed after the restart, the "tulips" made a complete turnaround. A great combination between Tijani Reinders and Jeremy Frimpong was completed by the Milan midfielder, who scored with a shot around the edge of the penalty area - 2:1.
In 82' the Netherlands were left with a man less after Jorel Hatto stepped roughly on Le Normand's feet and was sent off. Ronald Koeman made a substitution - he brought on De Ligt and took off Depay to keep the score.
Spain did not give up and pressed after the red card, and so it came to the 93rd minute, in which Nico Williams fired a shot, Verbruggen deflected it, and the ball reached the foot of Mikel Merino, who scored from close range to make it 2:2.
The winner of this pair will go to Group "E" of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which also includes Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia.