By Sachit Subba • Football • Mar 21, 2025 03:13 AM • 158 views
Amsterdam – The Netherlands and Spain played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in a high-octane UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night, as late drama and a red card shaped an unforgettable contest at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
It was a match packed with twists, momentum swings, and sheer intensity, culminating in Mikel Merino's stoppage-time equalizer, which salvaged a crucial result for Spain against a resilient Dutch side reduced to ten men late in the game.
Spain struck first, with Nico Williams firing home in the 9th minute after a slick assist from Pedri, setting the early tone for La Roja. But the Netherlands, spurred on by their home crowd, clawed back into the contest.
Cody Gakpo restored parity in the 28th minute, finishing smartly to bring the Oranje level. The comeback was complete just minutes into the second half when Tijjani Reijnders put the Dutch ahead with a clinical strike that raised the roof in Amsterdam.
However, the hosts' momentum blew in the 82nd minute when defender Jorrel Hato was shown a red card, giving Spain a lifeline in the dying moments. The visitors capitalized, and substitute Merino latched onto another pinpoint pass from Williams in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic equalizer.
Despite the draw, Spain extended its unbeaten run against the Netherlands to 21 matches—an impressive streak they'll aim to preserve in the decisive second leg on Sunday in Valencia.
The stakes are high: the winner of this quarter-final clash will face either Croatia or France in the semi-finals. Croatia, for their part, holds the upper hand after a stunning 2-0 victory over the French in their first-leg encounter.
