Greece let two-goal lead slip as Netherlands fight back for dramatic 2-2 draw

Greece looked set for another big Nations League win when they led the Netherlands 2-0 in Thessaloniki, but the Dutch staged a fine recovery to snatch a 2-2 draw. Greece started strongly and put the Dutch defence under pressure. The hosts went ahead in the 23rd minute through Fotis Ioannidis, who finished from the right after a pass from Giorgos Masouras. Greece made a strong start and scored an early goal.

2 goals up at half-time. Ioannidis paid the favour forward when he set up Masouras to score in the first half stoppage time to make it 2-0. Greece was in a commanding position at the break and had the Netherlands exactly where they wanted them.

Score highlights

Greece 2-2 Netherlands

• 23′ — Fotis Ioannidis
• 45+’2’—Giorgos Masouras
• 59′ — Virgil van Dijk
• 89′ — Tijjani Reijnders

The Netherlands made a change at half-time, bringing in a new attacking option and altering the tempo of the game. Virgil van Dijk headed in a Joey Veerman cross to pull one back in the 59th minute. But while Greece became ever more obsessed with protecting its lead, the Dutch kept up the pressure.

As the clock wound down to 90 minutes, the comeback was complete. Tijjani Reijnders scored in the 89th minute to earn the Netherlands a point against Greece after the Dutch looked headed for a comfortable defeat.

It was a disappointing yet positive result for Greece. The home side had been superb in the first half, scoring twice and putting the Netherlands under real pressure. But the change of momentum after the break showed how difficult it is to hold on to a two-goal advantage against a team with attacking weapons like the Netherlands.

It was a notable comeback for the Netherlands. “Give the team credit, they didn’t give up when they were two goals down, they increased the tempo of the game, and they kept going to the end. Germany and Serbia are also in the group, while Greece remained at the top of Group A2, with the team still leading, Greek outlet Kathimerini reported.

It was a game of two halves in the end. The first was all of Greece, and the answer was all of the Netherlands. The final score of 2-2 mirrored the match stats, with Greece having the attacking prowess in the first half and the Netherlands the tenacity in the second.

For the neutral football fan, it was a further reminder of why the Nations League can produce compelling matches even at the league stage. Greece were two goals up and looked in control but were pegged back after 90 minutes.