The Netherlands secured a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in a pre-World Cup friendly at Icahn Stadium in New York. Two penalties converted by Cody Gakpo clinched the win for Ronald Koeman’s side, providing a necessary boost after a recent loss to Algeria ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Gakpo’s brace rescues a struggling Oranje
On paper, the Netherlands entered the Manhattan clash as heavy favorites, but the performance was far from convincing. As Flashscore reported, the Dutch side struggled with finishing throughout the match. Crysencio Summerville squandered a wide-open chance early on with a heavy touch, while Donyell Malen continued a worrying slump in form, firing a pass from Cody Gakpo wide of the goal despite having a nearly empty net. These errors left Koeman with a side that dominated possession but failed to convert territorial control into a comfortable lead.
The deadlock finally broke in the 30th minute when Summerville earned a penalty after being fouled by Jakhongir Uruzov. Gakpo converted the spot-kick to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead. However, the dominance remained superficial; Tijjani Reijnders missed a golden opportunity to double the lead, heading the ball far over the Uzbek goal from a promising position. The lack of clinical execution from the midfield and wingers placed undue pressure on the defense as the match progressed into the second half.
The match reached a chaotic peak in injury time. After conceding an equalizer to Igor Sergeev, the Dutch were minutes away from a disappointing draw. A second penalty, earned when Jan-Paul van Hecke was pulled to the ground during a corner, allowed Gakpo to score again in the 98th minute, sealing the 2-1 result. This late winner prevented a second consecutive friendly defeat and provided a momentary reprieve for a forward line that struggled to create clear-cut chances from open play.
Uzbekistan’s historic debut and the Cannavaro effect
For Uzbekistan, the match was less about the final score and more about the milestone. According to russpain.com, reaching the final stage of the World Cup is a historic event for the nation. Under the guidance of Fabio Cannavaro, the team showed a level of resilience that nearly upset the European giants on American soil. Cannavaro’s tactical approach focused on a compact defensive block that forced the Netherlands into wide areas, limiting their ability to penetrate the central zone.
Captain Khusanov led a disciplined Uzbek side that capitalized on the Netherlands’ sloppiness in the second half. The highlight for the debutants was the injury-time equalizer by Igor Sergeev, a goal that punctuated a performance where they consistently threatened the Dutch defense. The Uzbek side utilized their physicality in transition to bypass the Dutch midfield, creating several counter-attacking opportunities that kept the Oranje defensive line under constant pressure.
The Uzbek squad utilized the New York friendly to test their depth, fielding a starting eleven that included:
- Yusupov (Goalkeeper)
- Sayfiev, Urozov, Khusanov, Ashurmatov
- Nasrullaev, Fayzullaev, Mozgovoy, Shukurov, Uronov
- Shomurodov
Red cards and injury scares in Manhattan
The match was marred by a bizarre disciplinary lapse and a medical scare. Substitute Guus Til was sent off after committing a handball twice in a single sequence. While the referee opted for a free-kick rather than a penalty for the infraction, the red card left the Netherlands shorthanded during a precarious closing stretch. Til’s dismissal forced Koeman to shift his tactical shape for the final minutes, leaving the team vulnerable to the Uzbek surge that led to Sergeev’s equalizer.
Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen also suffered a short injury scare, forcing Ronald Koeman to bring on Mark Flekken as a precaution. Verbruggen, who has established himself as a primary option in the squad, was replaced to avoid any risk of a long-term setback before the tournament. The transition to Flekken occurred during a period where the Dutch defense was already struggling with organization, contributing to a “slower and sloppier” second half for the Oranje, who struggled to maintain control of the game until the final whistle.
Group stage outlook for the 2026 World Cup
Both teams are using these US-based friendlies to erase the memory of recent losses. The Netherlands are coming off a 0-1 defeat to Algeria, while Uzbekistan recently fell 0-2 to Canada. For Koeman, the priority is refining the right wing, where he tested a combination of Crysencio Summerville and Denzel Dumfries. The lack of cohesion between the wing-back and the forward on the right flank was evident in several failed overlapping runs during the New York match.
The stakes now shift to the official tournament group stages. The Netherlands face a challenging path in Group F, where they must contend with Japan’s tactical discipline and Sweden’s physicality. Uzbekistan enters their first-ever World Cup looking to survive a group featuring established powerhouses, with their ability to maintain the defensive discipline seen under Cannavaro being critical to their survival hopes.
| Team | Group Opponents | Opening Match |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Japan, Sweden, Tunisia | vs. Japan (June 14) |
| Uzbekistan | Colombia, Portugal, DR Congo | TBD |
The Dutch will open their campaign on Saturday, June 14, at 22:00 CEST against Japan. While the win over Uzbekistan provides a psychological lift, the lack of clinical finishing from players like Malen and Reijnders remains a significant concern for a team that considers itself a tournament favorite. Koeman will need to address these efficiency issues before the June 14 opener to avoid the type of frustration that defined the encounter at Icahn Stadium.
