Reijnders rescues late draw for Netherlands
Tijjani Reijnders scored an 89th-minute equaliser as Netherlands came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Greece.
After stunning Germany last time out, Greece looked set to make it three wins from three in the Nations League after first-half goals from Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras, but Virgil van Dijk and Reijnders ensured the points would be shared at Stadio Toumbas.
Greece thought it was ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour when Christos Tzolis picked out the bottom-right corner, but the strike was ruled out as Vangelis Pavlidis obstructed Bart Verbruggen's view from an offside position.
Tzolis was soon forced off with an injury, but his replacement Masouras made an immediate impact in the 23rd minute as his flick-on allowed Ioannidis to run through on goal and curl past Verbruggen.
Ioannidis then returned the favour in first-half stoppage time, regaining possession after intercepting a blind back pass from Ruben van Bommel and squaring for Masouras to tap in from close range, though Greece's decision to sit on its lead after half-time proved costly.
Van Dijk halved the deficit for the visitor with a powerful header from Joey Veerman's floated corner in the 59th minute, while Denzel Dumfries saw a potential equaliser ruled out for offside soon afterwards.
The Real Madrid right-back would again be denied by the offside flag in the 73rd minute, moving beyond the final defender before turning home Van Dijk's knockdown, but there was no stopping Reijnders late on.
Gjivai Zechiel's acrobatic attempt from Noa Lang's cross was blocked by Konstantinos Mavropanos, but Reijnders was able to volley the rebound past Konstantinos Tzolakis from the edge of the six-yard box.
Xavi conceded he got things wrong in the first half.
"The first half was very bad. That was my mistake, as a coach," Xavi said.
"There was no intensity, rhythm, and not even ambition. We talked about that. It was important to create chances from the start. But that didn't work at all in the first half. It is my fault how I organised the team in the first half."
Xavi made four changes compared to the team that started against Serbia in the Oranje's previous UEFA Nations League outing.
Asked if that was too many alterations, he said: "Maybe. That's why I say it's my fault. I'm happy with the second half."
Reijnders, Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang were all introduced at half-time, and the Netherlands swiftly got on the front foot.
"The second half, that is how we want to play," Xavi added.
Van Dijk echoed Xavi's thoughts.
He said: "In the second half, we showed how we want to play, how we want to defend, and that we can turn things around. But we also have to be realistic.
"The first half was obviously just bad. Why is that? I think you mainly have to look within yourself. The basics: winning duels, being firmer on the ball, making the right choices. Instead of looking through the middle, playing around it, as we agreed. Only, that didn't happen.
"Unfortunately, that happens sometimes in football too. Then it's about how you react. How we played in the second half; that is a pretty good reaction, I think."
