Two penalties rescue Netherlands in lacklustre display against Uzbekistan

The Netherlands wrapped up their pre-tournament camp in New York with a friendly against Fabio Cannavaro's Uzbekistan. Manager Ronald Koeman used the opportunity to experiment with a new setup on the right flank. Crysencio Summerville earned his second consecutive start, but this time with Denzel Dumfries behind him. Dumfries had just served a one-match suspension.

Summerville had the first chance to put the Dutch ahead in New York City. However, with only the goalkeeper to beat, the West Ham winger took a heavy touch and squandered the clear opportunity.

Following his struggles in the Netherlands' first friendly loss to Algeria, Donyell Malen's poor finishing continued in New York City. Cody Gakpo played the ball directly in front of Malen, who had the chance to slot it into an almost empty net. Yet he somehow sent it wide of Utkir Yusupov's goal.

Tijjani Reijnders was the next Dutch star to be handed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. He also failed to convert, heading the ball well over the Uzbek goal from a very promising position.

Summerville was central to the Netherlands' next major chance when he was brought down heavily by Jakhongir Uruzov, earning a penalty in the 30th minute. Cody Gakpo stepped up and tucked it into the bottom left corner. Yusupov got a hand to it but could not keep it out, giving the Netherlands a deserved lead.

Uzbekistan, who had failed to impress in the first half, were fortunate not to fall two goals behind before the break. Donyell Malen could not fire the ball at Yusupov following a quick counter attack, and the Dutch were also denied a penalty despite contact.

After a brief injury scare for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, the Netherlands created their first chance of the second half. Donyell Malen set up Cody Gakpo, who fired the ball over the goal.

In a somewhat slower and sloppier half from Oranje, Brian Brobbey seemed to have made the most of his cameo shortly after replacing Malen. However, his goal was ruled out for offside.

Just when things seemed to be going against the Netherlands, substitute Guus Til was penalised for committing a handball twice in one move. Though it was close, a free kick was awarded instead of a penalty. The attempt from the edge of the box was fired high over the bar of Mark Flekken, who had replaced Bart Verbruggen as a precaution after the latter's injury scare.

The ten man Netherlands could not clear the ball properly in a dangerous situation. This ended in despair for the Dutch, who conceded an injury time equaliser via the raised foot of Igor Sergeev.

The Netherlands were inches away from still snatching a win. Tijjani Reijnders' toe poke was cleared off the line by the Uzbek defence. Summerville was also denied in the final seconds of the match, his shot saved by Yusupov at his near post.

An unbelievable period of injury time came to a fitting end when Jan Paul van Hecke was pulled to the ground during a corner, giving Oranje a second penalty of the day. Cody Gakpo stepped up once again and sent Yusupov the wrong way to secure a 2 1 win over Uzbekistan in the 98th minute.

After their disappointing 1 0 home defeat to Algeria in Rotterdam, Ronald Koeman's Oranje failed to impress once again. World Cup debutants snatched a 1 1 draw from the tight Dutch grip in an empty Icahn Stadium in New York City.