Belarus 1-3 Holland: Robben and Depay salvages late win

  • Arjen Robben and Memphis Depay helped Holland pull off a last gasp victory
  • The captain kept calm to score a penalty in the dying moments of the match
  • Depay smashed home a free-kick to make certain victory for his side 
  • Davy Propper opened the scoring for the visitors on the 25 minute mark 
  • Belarus fought back and equalised through Maksim Volodko in the second half
  • The results means Holland need to beat Sweden 6-0 to qualify for the World Cup

Holland’s faint dreams of overcoming the odds and fighting back to secure a place at the 2018 Russia World Cup still exist only thanks to captain Arjen Robben and Memphis Depay.

The veteran winger slotted home a penalty in the dying minutes of the tie to secure victory, despite the Oranje looking destined to crash out of contention with just a point gained.

Former Manchester United man Memphis Depay then crashed home a free-kick to ensure all three points for the national side. 

Arjen Robben kept his nerve to slot home a late penalty and secure victory for Holland

The captain headed off quickly with the ball knowing his side require plenty of goals 

The captain headed off quickly with the ball knowing his side require plenty of goals 

MATCH FACTS

BELARUS (4-2-3-1) Chernik; Rios, Yanushkevich, Politevich, Volodko; Dragun, Maevski; Balanovich, Karnitski, Stasevich; Signevich.

GOAL: Volodko 55

HOLLAND (4-2-3-1): Cillessen; Janmaat, Van Dijk, Rekik, Blind; Wijnaldum, Vilhena; Robben, Propper, Babel; Janssen. 

GOAL: Propper 25, Robben 84, Depay 90

The visitors took the lead in the opening 25 minutes after Brighton’s Davy Propper was able to beat impressive Belarus goalkeeper Sergei Chernik and establish some early moment.

Holland however already seemed a team deflated from the off, knowing they had to come up with a huge scoreline simply to keep any lingering hopes alive.

The self-doubt soon crept in and Belarus were afforded a way back into the tie, Maksim Volodko seizing on a chance to snap up a shock equaliser for his side.

Realising the magnitude of the goal heads in Orange shirts soon began to drop, with the hosts looking the more likely to go on and score again in the tie.

Maksim Volodko shocks the visitors by clawing back an equaliser for Belarus in the clash

Maksim Volodko shocks the visitors by clawing back an equaliser for Belarus in the clash

Belarus players rush to mob their goalscoring star who brought them back level in Barysaw

Belarus players rush to mob their goalscoring star who brought them back level in Barysaw

Davy Propper opened the scoring in Belarus to give Holland the faintest bit of hope

Davy Propper opened the scoring in Belarus to give Holland the faintest bit of hope

Vincent Janssen is thwarted by a low diving Sergei Chernik who lunges to save his effort

Vincent Janssen is thwarted by a low diving Sergei Chernik who lunges to save his effort

Liverpool ace Georginio Wijnaldum tries to build up some momentum for his side in midfield

Liverpool ace Georginio Wijnaldum tries to build up some momentum for his side in midfield

Captain Arjen Robben comes under a heavy challenge from Belarus's Sergei Balanovich

Captain Arjen Robben comes under a heavy challenge from Belarus’s Sergei Balanovich

It was only when a spot kick was given in the dying moments that a salvage mission looked possible, with Robben holding his nerve to get his side a vital victory. 

Holland looked like a set-up lost for all ideas prior to the match, scraping the barrel to bring former Liverpool man Ryan Babel after a six year absence from the international scene.

The result means Holland must beat Sweden by a 6-0 margin in their final qualifying game to have chance of booking a place at the 2018 World Cup.

The winger watches on as his free-kick attempt sails narrowly over the crossbar

The winger watches on as his free-kick attempt sails narrowly over the crossbar

Former Liverpool man Ryan Babel competes for the header after getting back into the squad

Former Liverpool man Ryan Babel competes for the header after getting back into the squad

Defender Virgil van Dijk was also recalled into action by the Dutch national side for the clash

Defender Virgil van Dijk was also recalled into action by the Dutch national side for the clash

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