Meerdink Double Sends Netherlands Top After Serbia Nations League Win
Mexx Meerdink struck twice as the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade, sending Xavi’s side to the summit of Nations League Group 2 with four points.
The Dutch were made to work for their first win under their new head coach after Serbia hit back immediately after the interval through Luka Jovic. Meerdink’s composed second goal, created by Guus Til, settled a frantic contest and stretched the Oranje’s competitive unbeaten sequence to 18 matches, with penalty shoot-out results excluded.
Meerdink puts Netherlands ahead
Serbia had threatened early when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic fired narrowly off target, but the visitors took control midway through the opening half.
Aleksa Terzic brought down Crysencio Summerville in the area and Meerdink converted the resulting penalty. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic read the direction, yet could not keep out the firmly struck effort.
Denzel Dumfries then went close to a second, only for Serbia’s goalkeeper to make an important save. Xavi suffered a setback before the break, however, as Cody Gakpo had to leave the pitch injured.
Jovic answers after the break
Veljko Paunovic changed his Serbia team at half-time, introducing Dusan Tadic and Jovic, and the home side equalised within a minute of the restart.
Bart Verbruggen reacted well to deny both Jovic and Filip Kostic during a scramble, but the Netherlands could not clear their lines. Jovic collected the loose ball and drilled a left-footed finish into the net.
The Dutch response was immediate. Ruben van Bommel struck the outside of the post after a flowing move, before Dumfries found Tijjani Reijnders free in the box. Reijnders failed to take the chance, lifting his shot over the bar.
Late pressure fails to move Serbia
Meerdink delivered the decisive finish when Til released him with a precise pass. The forward took the ball in stride and sent a low left-footed shot beyond Milinkovic-Savic.
Serbia pushed hard for another equaliser and almost found one when Jovic headed a Tadic corner just wide of the far post. The Netherlands held on to seal a significant result after opening Xavi’s reign with a 1-1 draw against Germany.
Serbia remain last in the group with no points. The next Nations League fixtures take place on October 1, when the Netherlands visit Greece and Serbia travel to Germany.
