Netherlands U21’s put one foot into the European Championships after they saw off Luxembourg 3-1 on Tuesday night.

  • By Michael Bell
  • Follow Michael on Twitter

prom esThe first half in Maastricht was a struggle for the young talented Dutch side that contained Karim Rekik, Quincy Promes, Tonny Vilhena, and Jean Paul Boetius, who were all cut from the World Cup squad last week, as Luxembourg defended well.

However after 53 minutes the deadlock was finally broken by Twente striker Luc Castaignos, who poked the ball past the goalkeeper after being set up by Nathan Ake.

Two minutes later, Quincy Promes jinked through the defence before firing into the net to make it 2-0, but Luxembourg then pulled a goal back on 59 minutes when Glenn Gomes Gorges capitalised on an error from Ake to fire the ball past Warner Hahn.

Luxembourg were not back in the game for long as Promes netted his second of the game, and fifth in the last two games, with a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Netherlands could have added more goals before the end, but Marco van Ginkel fired just wide, and Castaignos put a header just past the post.

Albert Stuivenberg’s side are now three points ahead of nearest rivals Slovakia, with only two home games left, and will be confident of a place in next summer’s European Championships in the Czech Republic.




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