Meerdink double seals soured Netherlands victory

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Netherlands needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Cody Gakpo on Xavi's debut against Germany, but overcame a stern test on Monday (AEST) to seal all three points.

Dejan Joveljic brought the first save out of Bart Verbruggen in the 17th minute before Meerdink stung the palms of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with his shot coming after Gakpo was forced off with an injury after his ankle was twisted under a tackle.

Gakpo played on in visible discomfort before being forced off the field, and the injury could keep him out of action for the rest of the international window, and perhaps Liverpool too when the Premier League resumes.

But Netherlands made the breakthrough in the 30th minute when Crysencio Summerville was fouled inside the penalty area by Aleksa Terzic, with Meerdink stepping up and blasting the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner.

Denzel Dumfries should have doubled the visitors' lead after he was brilliantly slipped in by Meerdink, but Milinkovic-Savic was on hand to repel his attempt from a tight angle.

However, Serbia needed just 54 seconds after the break to draw level. Verbruggen made two excellent stops to deny Luka Jovic and Andrija Zivkovic, but Sasa Lukic's scuffed shot made its way back to Jovic, who finished first time from close range.

Ruben van Bommel, who replaced Gakpo in the first half, saw his bouncing effort hit the post before Ryan Gravenberch's long-range shot was comfortably held by Milinkovic-Savic as Netherlands laid siege to Serbia's goal.

The persistence was rewarded in the 69th minute through the lively Meerdink, who, on the slide, found the bottom-right corner after being teed up by substitute Guus Til.

Serbia almost pegged back Netherlands soon after, but Jovic's header from a Dusan Tadic corner just evaded the far post, with Xavi's side holding on to go top of Group A2 ahead of Germany's clash with Greece later in the day.

“It's a boyhood dream. I actually don't have any words for it," Meerdink said after his winning brace. "Everything is happening so quickly. You just don't realise what can happen in the space of a week. It's also great that we managed to win here.

“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. This time it went my way. Then you have to be there and be important for the team. I did feel a little pressure, I was a bit nervous. But you play that out of your system. And then to be allowed to score two is fantastic."