Young Portugal handed the Juniors its first point loss in the last game of the European Championship qualifying cycle. The Portuguese were in the Estádio Municipal de Portimão 2-1 too strong for the Dutch U21, after a match with goals from Fábio Vieira (twice) and Cody Gakpo. Despite this, the Juniors qualify as the winner of qualifying group G for next year’s European Championship, because Young Portugal is ahead of the game on the basis of mutual results: previously the Portuguese won 4-2 in Doetinchem. For the team of national coach Erwin van de Looi it means the first defeat since November 18, 2018, when it lost 3-0 to Young Germany.

The Juniors qualified for next year’s European Championship in Hungary and Slovenia a month ago and have a very strong qualifying cycle. Prior to the visit to Portugal, the team of national coach Erwin van de Looi took the lead in the qualifying group without a point loss, with a positive goal difference of no less than 42. Young Portugal had also qualified and suffered only one defeat during the qualifying round for the European Championship : In October of last year, the Juniors won their first encounter at De Vijverberg in Doetinchem, 4-2. A draw in Portimão was enough for the Dutch U21 to take the group win.

Compared to last Sunday’s game against Young Belarus won 5-0, Van de Looi made the necessary changes: Maarten Paes, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, ​​Danilho Doekhi, Jordan Teze and Kaj Sierhuis disappeared from the starting eleven in favor of Kjell Scherpen , Justin Kluivert, Perr Schuurs, Deyovaisio Zeefuik and Cody Gakpo. However, the start was disastrous, as the Juniors were already behind within a minute. A throw-in by Zeefuik brought Hoogma into trouble within his own penalty area, especially because he also slipped. Goalkeeper Scherpen then downed Dany Mota, but was lucky that the ball fell at the feet of Fábio Vieira. Because FC Porto’s midfielder scored, the Ajax goalkeeper escaped a possible red card.

During the first half, the Juniors got better and better in the game, which initially resulted in a few pinpricks. On the stroke of half time, however, the visitors came to the same level. Javairo Dilrosun released Zeefuik on the right side of the penalty area. The fullback of Hertha BSC found Gakpo with a hard cross at the far post, who managed to work the ball into the empty goal. Young Portugal then quickly managed to grab a lead again in the second half.

With 53 minutes left on the clock, Fábio Vieira van Hoogma got the space to lash out on the edge of the penalty area. His shot went over Scherpen via the foot of the FC Utrecht defender. Almost immediately afterwards, Young Portugal had a great opportunity to raise the margin to two. Substitute Rafael Leão surfaced freely in the penalty area and passed Scherpen, but saw Schuurs prevent a hit with a nice intervention on the goal line. In the remainder of the second half, the best chances were still for Young Portugal, including through Fábio Vieira. The Juniors, however, managed to keep the damage limited and failed to get to 2-2 via Kluivert, but seizes the win in the qualifying group based on the mutual result of the matches against Young Portugal.