Friendly Match – Musa scores as Netherlands suffer a shock 0-1 defeat to Algeria

On June 3, local time, the Netherlands lost 0-1 to Algeria in a pre-World Cup friendly match. After this match, they will immediately depart for New York to make their final preparations for the World Cup.

Facing Algeria playing away, the Netherlands took the initiative from the start. In the 8th minute, Tijani Reindes delivered a diagonal pass from the right wing, and Donyell Malen's shot inside the penalty area hit the left post. In the 10th minute, Cody Jakobó sent a lobbed pass from the edge of the box, and Clicensio Somerville crossed the ball to Reindes, who fired a low shot into the net. However, the goal was disallowed for offside by Somerville, allowing Algeria to escape a close call.

In the 19th minute, the Netherlands missed another scoring opportunity: Somerville broke through on the right and delivered a cross, but Malen's shot, unmarked, went just wide. In the 20th minute, Reindes passed the ball from midfield to the left, where Cody Gakpo's long-range shot was brilliantly saved by Luca Zidane. In the 25th minute, Somerville played a through ball from the edge of the box, but Reindes' follow-up shot was again denied by Luca. In the 41st minute, Gakpo's shot/cross from the right side of the box was easily collected by Luca.

The second half began with both sides switching ends. In the 49th minute, Ibrahim Maza delivered a diagonal pass from the attacking third, and Mohamed Amura's shot from the left side of the penalty area went just wide of the near post. In the 52nd minute, Reindes provided an assist, and Malen cut inside from the right wing and fired a shot that went wide of the left side. In the 62nd minute, Justin Kluivert's shot from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Luca. In the 65th minute, Gakopo delivered a diagonal pass from the attacking third, and Kluivert's low shot from the left side of the penalty area failed to find the target. In the 84th minute, Memphis Depay unleashed a long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Luca made a diving save.

In the 86th minute, Algeria finally broke the deadlock: Anies Haji Mousa cut inside from the right wing into the penalty area and curled a shot into the net, making the score 1-0. The match ended with the Netherlands losing to Algeria by one goal.

Image source: Internet