Hadj Moussa stuns the Netherlands on his own ground as Algeria win in Rotterdam
The Netherlands wanted a feel-good farewell in front of their own fans before flying out to the World Cup. Algeria, and one man who knows De Kuip better than most, had other plans.
Ronald Koeman's side controlled Wednesday's friendly in Rotterdam for long stretches and created more than enough to win it. Donyell Malen struck the woodwork early, and Tijjani Reijnders had the ball in the net only for an offside flag to chalk it off. The finishing never matched the build-up.
A winner made for De Kuip
Four minutes from time, Anis Hadj Moussa punished all of it. The Feyenoord winger, playing at his club's home stadium, cut in off the right and bent a left-footed shot beyond the goalkeeper. It was the kind of finish Rotterdam crowds have watched him produce all season, just not usually against the Oranje. He has 14 goals for Feyenoord in all competitions this campaign, and few of them can have felt stranger to celebrate.
Two very different roads to North America
The result means more to Algeria than a friendly normally would. They are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2014, having topped their African qualifying group under Vladimir Petkovic, and beating a side of the Netherlands' pedigree away from home is a serious statement a week out. A group containing Argentina, Austria and Jordan awaits them.
For Koeman there is no need to panic, but the pattern is an old Dutch worry: plenty of the ball, not enough ruthlessness. The Netherlands open their Group F campaign against Japan in Arlington on June 14, with Sweden and Tunisia to follow. Nights like this one are forgiven quickly if the football in Texas is sharper.
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