HAMBURG, Germany – Wout Weghorst scored two minutes after entering the game as a substitute to secure a 2-1 victory for the Netherlands against Poland in their Group D opener in Hamburg.
Weghorst, who scored just two goals in 31 appearances for Manchester United while on loan at Old Trafford during the 2022-23 season, replaced the ineffective Memphis Depay in the 82nd minute as manager Ronald Koeman attempted a late throw of the dice after seeing to the Dutch. miss a series of opportunities.
Although Weghorst's spell at United proved fruitless in front of goal, the Hoffenheim striker took his recent tally to seven goals in 11 appearances for his country when he broke away from his marker to guide Nathan Ake's pass past the goalkeeper Polish Wojciech Szczęsny with a left foot. shot from ten meters.
With Poland without injured striker Robert Lewandowski, the Dutch were favorites to win this match, but the 1988 European champions struggled to overcome Michal Probierz's team. The Poles opened the scoring when Adam Buksa, Lewandowski's replacement, scored with a header from a Piotr Zielinski corner in the 16th minute.
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Lens forward Buksa, a former New England Revolution striker, escaped the attention of Denzel Dumfries at the near post to beat goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and give Poland the lead.
But the Dutch fought back and Virgil van Dijk forced Szczęsny into a good save with a volley before Cody Gakpo equalized with a deflected shot in the 29th minute.
Liverpool striker Gakpo wasted a golden opportunity to put the Dutch ahead in the 42nd minute when he fired over the bar from 3 metres. Both teams created and missed several chances in the second half before Koeman made a late change of his own by introducing Weghorst.
The striker repaid Koeman almost instantly by scoring the winning goal, giving the Netherlands the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign.
