Goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Wesley Sneijder threw the Oranje a lifeline with one game left of the Euro 2016 campaign, although the nation are still dependent on Turkey slipping up at home to Iceland to reach the play-offs.
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As qualification for next year’s European Championship draws towards a close, Holland’s destiny remains out of their hands as they head into their final two games against Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.
Islambek Kuat reduced the deficit with virtually the last kick of the game.
The Dutch can only progress to France next summer via a play-off, with Iceland and the Czech Republic already through from Group A, and they began the evening trailing Turkey by two points in the race for third spot.
“The important thing is that we won”, said the striker to De Telegraaf.
Goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet became the fourth debutant of the night in Astana when he came on as a second half substitute for Tim Krul – himself a replacement for Jasper Cillessen, who was injured in the warmup.
Memphis Depay has been named in the Netherlands’ first XI for their must-win Euro 2016 qualifier in Kazakhstan.
Skipper Sneijder latched onto Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s pass inside the area before firing a left-footed effort into the centre of the goal.
Either side of his assist, El Ghazi missed two good chances to crown his full worldwide debut with a goal.
Blind has been forced to call in a number of debutante’s to cover the absentee’s with Ajax trio Kenny Tete, Anwar El Ghazi and Riechedly Bazoer all in line for their first cap, while Virgil van Dijk will be hoping for his first appearance in Oranje.
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Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder, front, fights for the ball with…
