Northern Ireland suffered heartbreak in Rotterdam as Holland scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a 3-1 victory which leaves Euro 2020 qualification hopes hanging by a thread for Michael O’Neill’s men.
Josh Magennis’ 75th-minute header had Northern Ireland dreaming of a victory which would have ranked amongst their greatest results, but it all fell apart late on.
Memphis Depay levelled for the Dutch just five minutes after they fell behind, and then scored his second of the night in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Luuk de Jong scored the second.
But instead they ended the night third in Group C, level on points with the Dutch and the Germans, who have both played a game less and who will both face Northern Ireland next month.
Ronald Koeman had warned his players to prepare to face “fighting machines” and they soon realised what he meant as O’Neill’s men pressed high and harassed their hosts into mistakes in an uncomfortable opening period.
Kyle Lafferty, without an international goal since November 2016, started as the lone striker, tasked with facing a central defensive pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt.
Koeman had also voiced concern that his players had looked lethargic in training in the build-up to the match, and it was noticeable that they struggled to move the ball with much pace in the first half, allowing Northern Ireland to snuff out the danger in midfield.
The net result was that they did not even manage an effort on target until the dying moments of the first half when Georginio Wijnaldum’s tame header was gathered by Bailey Peacock-Farrell on the line.
Wijnaldum, who had also seen a shot charged down by Stuart Dallas in the first half, was the first to get a sight of goal in the second after a driving run from Memphis but sent it wastefully over.
Holland were playing with much greater urgency, and moments later the ball almost fell for Denzel Dumfries at the far post as they threatened again.
Northern Ireland were living dangerously and Holland immediately pushed forward again. Wijnaldum’s hooked effort at the far post was over Peacock-Farrell but Jonny Evans was back to head it away.
And then, out of nothing, Northern Ireland scored with their first effort on target.
De Ligt sliced a clearance horribly and Daley Blind failed to deal with it. Dallas dug out a cross and Magennis – just on for an exhausted Lafferty – headed in.
It sparked scenes of delirium amongst the 3,500 travelling fans and a shocked silence amongst the orange-clad home supporters.
Donyell Malen’s square ball found Memphis who had a simple task to poke it beyond Peacock-Farrell.
Then it all unravelled for Northern Ireland in stoppage time.
De Jong got his first effort wrong at the far post but when Peacock-Farrell missed the ball he had the easiest of finishes to put Holland ahead.
And then, with virtually the last kick of the game, Memphis rolled in a second off the post.
