The 2010 FIFA World Cup losing finalist Netherlands have booked a place in the round of sixteen after humbling hosts 2-0 in the final group A match played at the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday evening.Coming into the match, the Dutch needed just a point to qualify as the group winners but goals in either halves handed them their second win in the pool.Following the win, Netherlands who are still searching for their maiden glory in the tournament will play group B’s runner up.##NAJAVA_MECA_6854241##With their fate already sealed having lost their opening group stage matches to Ecuador and Senegal, Qatar came into the match with an intention of redeeming their image and exiting the stage with their heads high.However, it was not going to be an easy task given the calibre of the opponent they were coming up against and Netherlands bid to boss group A and escape the possibility of tackling a big gun in the round of sixteen.US, Iran face off in winner-takes-all World Cup showdownThe Oranje beat Senegal 2-0 in the opening match before playing Ecuador to a one-all draw in the second game, a result that worked against their attempt to sail through to the next round with a game to spare.Qatar bravely managed to hold on the pressure from Netherlands but cracked in the 26th minute when the red-hot Cody Gakpo found the back of the net to break the deadlock.The youngster who has now scored in all three group stage matches joined Kylian Mbappe and Ener Valencia on top of the scoring charts as all have three goals against their names.The PSV youngster also became the first Dutch player to score in all World Cup group stage matches. Further, he equaled John Cruyff’s goal scoring record in the global stage.The pressure to double the advantage and put the results beyond the reach of Qatar was rife but the hosts managed to hold up to the point where the half time whistle was blasted.Cameroonian outcast plays the incident down: The nation first and foreverJust before the hosts could settle in the second half and execute the plot perhaps discussed extensively during the breather, Netherlands hammered home the second goal in the 49th minute through Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.The two sides wrestled each other in the remaining minutes of the game in search of goals but there was no breakthrough from both ends.Qatar’s exit means that they are the first host nation to kiss the tournament goodbye without registering a win.Tuesday matches8.00 Wales 4.30 England 1.484.00 Iran 3.30 USA 2.10*Odds are subject to change*
