Belgium and Holland through to Euro Under-21 semis
Belgium and Holland qualify
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Saturday, 16, Jun 2007 10:25
Belgium and Holland have secured progression to the semi-finals of the European Under-21 championship after playing out a 2-2 draw in tonight's final group A game in Heerenveen.
Sebastien Pocognoli hit a vital equaliser in the 70th minute to secure the one point needed for qualification, profiting from lax work from the Dutch goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer who appeared to go to ground too quickly when attempting to save the left-footed drive.
Trailing 2-1 prior to Bailly's gaffe, Portugal's 4-0 win against Israel in the other group game would have seen the Belgians eliminated on goal difference.
Belgium had started the game brightly, taking an early lead in the tenth minute from an expert glancing header from the much-heralded striker Kevin Mirallas.
However, the Holland team started to show the technique and intricate passing moves traditionally associated with Dutch units, attributes highly evident in their equaliser soon after.
Neat interplay saw Arsenal transfer target Ryan Babel work his way into the Belgian penalty area before delivering a cute pass for Maceo Rigters to equalise with a confident shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
Jean-Francois de Sart's side looked to be consigned to a premature exit from the tournament after a mistake from Belgian goalkeeper Logan Bailly saw the goalkeeper palm a Royston Drenthe free-kick into his own net in the 37th minute.
After the break Holland also controlled much of the play, with the Belgians failing to offer much of a threat in the final third.
They looked to be topping the group with a maximum nine points until Vermeer's gaffe.