Late goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen gave the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Senegal in their World Cup return at the Al Thumama Stadium on Monday.

The Oranje had produced a lacklustre performance in their first World Cup match since the 2014 tournament in Brazil, but secured all three points.

With just six minutes of regulation time left on the clock, Gakpo raced into the box and rose in front of Edouard Mendy to meet Frenkie de Jong's cross with a header to break the deadlock.

Louis van Gaal’s side were not convincing, but they had a second goal deep into stoppage time when Klaassen slotted home right at the end of a disappointing Group A contest.

Back on the biggest stage after missing out on qualification for Russia 2018, the Oranje started with a point to prove.

In an open start, that eagerness saw the Dutch created the first opportunity, with midfielder De Jong dallying in front of goal and being prevented from getting a shot away on the break.

Steven Berghuis then fired an effort over the crossbar just over five minutes before the break, with Youssouf Sabaly mustering the only shot on target of the first half in response.

Van Gaal turned to Memphis Depay, who had been deemed not fit enough to start, with the need for a game-changing spark around the hour mark.

It was Gakpo who came up with the elusive opening goal with time running out, though, nipping in ahead of Mendy to meet De Jong's delivery and nod beyond the Senegal keeper

Klaassen then sealed the win deep into stoppage time, applying a simple finish after Mendy could only palm Depay’s tame shot into his path.

,The ,@OnsOranje, are up and running,#FIFAWorldCup, | ,#Qatar2022, ,pic.twitter.com/pee2dYSB15, — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) ,November 21, 2022

What does it mean? Netherlands leave it late

Neither side looked to have the quality to join Ecuador on three points after they beat hosts Qatar in the first game of the tournament on Sunday.

But what had been a drab encounter burst into life late on, with Gakpo scoring from out of the blue and Klaassen coming off the bench to add insult to injury for Senegal.

Klaassen's goal after 98 minutes and 17 seconds is the second-latest in a World Cup on record (since 1966) excluding extra-time, after Mehdi Taremi's for Iran in their 6-2 loss against England earlier in the day (102:30)

Gakpo makes his mark in World Cup debut

The 23-year-old Gakpo is having an excellent season for PSV Eindhoven and he made his mark on his World Cup debut.

Gakpo has only scored one header in 106 Eredivisie games, but nodded in his first in a World Cup to rock Senegal.

Senegal miss Mane edge

The absence of talisman Sadio Mane for this tournament due to injury was a hammer blow and he was sorely missed.

Senegal did not have the quality to open up the Dutch and must regroup after being struck by late sucker punches.

Key Opta facts:

- Senegal have lost consecutive World Cup matches for the first time, while they have not kept a clean sheet in the competition since their tournament debut against France in 2002.
- Gakpo has been involved in four goals in as many games for his country (three goals, one assist), twice as many as he had in his first six appearances for the national side (one goal, one assist).
- The Oranje have kept four consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup for the first time and are the first nation to do so since Spain in 2010.
- Virgil van Dijk made his 50th appearance for the Netherlands in all competitions and his first at a major tournament. Only goalkeeper Gejus van der Meulen earned more caps for the Oranje before playing at a World Cup or European Championship (54, in 1934) than Van Dijk.

What's next?

Both teams are back in action on Friday, when Senegal face Qatar and the Netherlands meet Ecuador.