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After an 18-year break, the Netherlands finally won a title at the international level again - on Sunday in the Bessa Século XXI stadium in Porto, in the final of the European Youth (under 21) Championship, the Dutch defeated Ukraine after two goals from Klaas Jan Huntelaar and one from Nicky Hofs, becoming champions in their age group.
U-21 Netherlands 3 - 0 Ukraine U-21
11` [1 - 0] Klaas Jan Huntelaar
43` [2 - 0] Klaas Jan Huntelaar (11m.)
90+4` [3 - 0] Nicky Hofs
76` Oleksandr Romanchuk (Ukraine) sent off
Despite a setback in the first group stage match against Ukraine, the Dutch youth team was already being compared to the legendary 1988 national team, which, after losing in the European Championship opener, defeated the then Soviet Union team. This time, the role of Marco van Basten was taken over by Klaas Jan Huntelaar - the striker who had not scored for the national team received a pass from semi-final hero Nicky Hofs in the 11th minute and stopped the ball with a precise shot past goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov.
Ukraine immediately responded with a dangerous attack, but after a corner kick, Dmytro Chygrynskyy's header hit the crossbar, and soon afterwards luck smiled again at the Dutch, as Aleksey Godin hit the post after trying to score a penalty kick. The Dutch defense then took the initiative and doubled the lead just before the end of the first half - Oleksandr Yatsenko handballed in the penalty area and K.J. Huntelaar converted the penalty kick.
However, three days earlier in the semifinal, the Dutch had already wasted the same lead, and in the second half, they had to fend off endless Ukrainian attacks. Freshness was brought to the Ukrainian game by substitutes Maksym Feschuk and Oleksandr Aliyev - initially, Feschuk missed over the goal, Aliyev's shot was superbly saved by goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer, and another opportunity was missed by Yevhen Cheberyachko with an inaccurate shot.
At the end of the match, both teams exchanged missed opportunities, but the Ukrainian hopes ended with a red card for Oleksandr Romanchuk and an added-time goal from Nicky Hofs. The Dutch emerged victorious, becoming youth champions for the first time and partly repeating the country's triumph in the 1988 European Championship.
