Kazakhstan 1 vs 2 Netherlands

Kazakshtan 1-2 Netherlands: Job done by the Oranje

Netherlands kept their Euro 2016 chances alive after recording a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan in Astana.

The message before the game from Danny Blind and the players was simple. We must beat Kazakhstan on Saturday, and although it may not have been pretty Netherlands got the job done in Astana.

Anwar El Ghazi was handed his debut for the Oranje and the Ajax winger had Netherlands first chance of the game, but he could only head Memphis Depay’s cross wide. On the other wing Memphis Depay had a glorious chance to open the scoring but after running onto Daley Blind’s excellent through ball the Manchester United star could only fire wide.

Eventually the breakthrough did come on 33 minutes as El Ghazi set up Georginio Wijnaldum to fire into the bottom corner from just outside the box. Five minutes into the second half it was 2-0 with Wesley Sneijder finishing off an excellent team move by smashing the ball past Pokatilov from close range.

El Ghazi saw an effort cleared off the line, while Sneijder was denied a second goal by Pokatilov as Netherlands threatened a third, but as the game wore on Kazakhstan came into the game more, and with the last kick of the game Kuat pulled back a consolation.

Netherlands climb temporarily into third spot, but all eyes now turn to Turkey with the hope they slip up against the Czech Republic.

Netherlands kept their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 alive with victory over Kazakhstan in Astana.

The Dutch can still qualify through the play-offs but need Turkey to drop points to finish third in Group A.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Wesley Sneijder scored either side of half-time before Islambek Kuat added a consolation as Danny Blind's side leapfrogged Turkey with their fourth win of the campaign.

Turkey play the Czech Republic in a 19:45 BST kick-off on Saturday.

Victory for Fatih Terim's side would leave them requiring just a point from their final match at home to Iceland on Tuesday to secure the group's only play-off berth.

The last time the Dutch failed to qualify for a major tournament was the 2002 World Cup. Before that, they were absent from the 1982 and 1986 tournaments and from the 1984 European Championship.

Their final Group A match is against the Czech Republic, who like Iceland have already qualified for next summer's tournament in France.

Elsewhere, Iceland were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Latvia , despite having taken a two-goal lead.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Kazakhstan

• 01 Pokatilov
• 10 Engel
• 02 Maliy
• 23 Logvinenko Booked
• 16 Suyumbayev
• 19 Dosmagambetov (Nurgaliev - 81' )
• 05 Kuat
• 08 Smakov
• 07 Konysbaev
• 09 Islamkhan (Geteriev - 16' )
• 11 Shchetkin (Khizhnichenko - 64' )

Substitutes

• 03 Gurman
• 04 Kuantayev
• 06 Aytbaev
• 12 Boychenko
• 13 Nurgaliev
• 14 Mukhutdinov
• 15 Geteriev
• 17 Nuserbaev
• 18 Shomko
• 20 Khizhnichenko
• 21 Beysebekov
• 22 Sidelnikov

Netherlands

• 22 Krul (Zoet - 81' )
• 02 Tete
• 03 Bruma Booked
• 04 van Dijk
• 05 Riedewald
• 08 Wijnaldum
• 06 Blind Booked
• 10 Sneijder (Afellay - 80' )
• 11 El Ghazi Booked
• 09 Huntelaar (van Persie - 87' )
• 07 Depay

Substitutes

• 01 Cillessen
• 12 Anita
• 14 Rekik
• 15 Kongolo
• 16 Bazoer
• 17 Lens
• 18 Dost
• 19 van Persie
• 20 Afellay
• 21 Elia
• 23 Zoet

Ref: Clément Turpin

MATCH STATS

Shots

915

On target

27

Corners

33

Fouls

1112

Kazakhstan 1-2 Holland: Georginio Wijnaldum and Wesley Sneijder both net to secure vital victory in race for Euro 2016 qualification

• Newcastle attacker Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring for the away side with just 33 minutes played 
• Wijnaldum finished with his left foot following a neat assist from his team-mate Anwar El Ghazi in Group A
• It meant Holland went in at the break with a slender lead before doubling it just five minutes after the restart
• Wesley Sneijder was the man left celebrating as he slotted the ball past Kazakhstan goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov
• Kazakhstan did grab a goal late on as Islambek Kuat secured a consolation with the very last kick of the game

Georginio Wijnaldum and Wesley Sneijder were the heroes in Astana as Holland kept their dreams of qualifying for Euro 2016 alive with victory against Group A minnows Kazakhstan.

Newcastle attacker Wijnaldum netted with 33 minutes of the game played, lashing a left-footed effort past Kazakhstan goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov before Sneijder secured the points with a neat finish after a nice passing move five minutes after the break..

Kazakhstan did grab a goal late on as Islambek Kuat secured a consolation with the very last kick of the game, but it was Holland that earned the win

More to follow... 

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Georginio Wijnaldum smashes home the opener with his left foot as Holland take the lead against Kazakhstan in Group A on Saturday

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Wijnaldum is joined by team-mate Wesley Sneijder (left) and Anwar El Ghazi (right) as they celebrate his first-half Group A opener 

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Newcastle attacker Wijnaldum is mobbed by his team-mates after opening the scoring against Kazakhstan at the Astana Arena

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Sneijder celebrates his second-half effort with Holland team-mate Jairo Riedewald during their Euro 2016 group A qualifier in Astana

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Wijnaldum (left), Sneijder (centre) and El Ghazi all come together to celebrate Holland's second goal of the game during vital victory

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Jeffrey Bruma slides in for the tackle as he looks to get the ball off of opposition player Aleksei Schetkin during the Group A qualifier 

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First-half goalscorer Wijnaldum (left) goes up for a header with Kazakhstan's Gafurzhan Suyumbayev on Saturday night in Astana

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Klaas-Jan Huntellar is joined in the air by Kazakhstan's Sergei Maliy as both compete for the ball during the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier 

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Manchester United attacker Memphis Depay (right) does his best to beat Kazakhstan's Konstantin Engel for pace at the Astana Arena

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Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk (left) lets his frame do the talking as he looks to beat Timur Dosmagambetov to the ball in Astana