With Senegal securing all 3 points earlier today after their 3-1 victory over Qatar, it means Group A will now be decided in the third and final round of the group stage matches and the hosts have been eliminated from the competition.
The Netherlands and Ecuador are level on 4 points while the African Champions are in third place with 3 points and a victory for any of the three in the final round will secure automatic qualification to the round of 16.
The Dutch played to a 1-1 draw with Ecuador who came from behind to pick up a point in their second group match.
It did not take long for the match to spring into life as the opening goal was scored in the 6th minute when Cody Gakpo made no mistake from outside the 18 box with a ferocious shot that found the back of the net to put the Dutch ahead.
There was a shift in momentum as Ecuador went in search of an equalizer but couldn’t quite find it and perhaps felt incensed that they were denied an equalizer before the halftime whistle was blown as it was ruled out for offside.
They started the second stanza with the same amount of vigor and they would arguably get the equalizer they so badly needed having created several chances towards the back end of the half as Pervis Estupinan found open space down the left and sent a low shot from the edge of the box.
His effort was parried away but Enner Valencia stabbed the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
The result confirmed the elimination of Qatar who have become only the second host nation to be eliminated from the group stage of the World Cup after South Africa in 2010.
A lot to play for going into the last set of games as they will determine who among the three teams still in contention in Group A will qualify for the round of 16.
