The Netherlands missed the chance to become the first team at the World Cup to cement a last-16 place as Ecuador’s Enner Valencia cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s sublime strike in Friday’s 1-1 draw.
As in Monday’s win over Senegal, Louis van Gaal’s team were far from their fluid best, though they still took an early lead when in-demand forward Gakpo rifled in from 20 yards.
However, Ecuador were lively throughout and were good value for their leveller, which made Valencia just the fourth player in World Cup history to score six consecutive goals for a nation at the tournament, though the striker was forced off injured just before the end of the contest.
That could impact his hopes of landing the Golden Boot, but Valencia’s strike kept Ecuador and the Oranje locked together on four points in Group A, and condemned hosts Qatar to an early exit after their 3-1 defeat to Senegal.
The Netherlands needed just six minutes to take the lead, and they did so in spectacular fashion as Gakpo latched onto Davy Klaassen’s flick-on before hammering into the top-left corner.
Ecuador offered a positive response to that setback, however, forcing Virgil van Dijk into two last-ditch interventions before Valencia tested Andries Noppert from range.
La Tri thought they had found a leveller on the stroke of half-time, but Pervis Estupinan’s instinctive finish was chalked off after the offside Jackson Porozo was ruled to have blocked Noppert’s view.
Ecuador were not to be denied again within four minutes of the restart though, as Valencia pounced to tap home the rebound when Noppert saved Estupinan’s effort.
Gustavo Alfaro’s side almost capped an encouraging display with a second when Gonzalo Plata rattled the crossbar with a fine left-footed effort.
However, Ecuador’s mood was dampened by a significant blow in the closing exchanges as Valencia was carried off on a stretcher after going down clutching his knee.