Mansion Sports – The Netherlands completed a dramatic second-half comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Greece in the UEFA Nations League Group A2 match on Thursday.

Goals from Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras had given the hosts an early lead, but Virgil van Dijk and a late goal from Tijjani Reijnders ensured Xavi Hernandez’s visitors took home an important point.

Greece Take the Lead

Greece started the match aggressively and managed to take the lead after 23 minutes.

Konstantinos Tzolakis sent a long pass forward, which substitute Masouras then redirected toward Ioannidis. The striker calmly finished the chance.

Just before the half-time whistle was blown, the two players combined again.

A careless mistake in the Netherlands midfield allowed Ioannidis to win a loose ball and direct it toward Masouras, who then slotted the ball into the net to surprisingly give his team a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Xavi Sparks the Netherlands Comeback

Xavi had to lift the spirits of his players, who dominated possession with more than 70 percent. They then responded strongly in the second half.

The Netherlands received a crucial boost in the 59th minute when Joey Veerman delivered an accurate corner.

Van Dijk rose highest and powered a header past Tzolakis.

The visitors briefly thought they had quickly equalized, but Denzel Dumfries’ close-range effort was ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR review.

Reijnders Secures a Point

Despite the frustrating setback, the Netherlands continued to push for an equalizer as the clock continued to run down.

Their relentless pressure finally paid off in the 89th minute when Noa Lang delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area.

Substitute Joshua Zirkzee redirected the ball with a touch of his head, allowing Reijnders to unleash a close-range volley and score.

The result leaves Greece at the top of Group A2 with seven points, while the Netherlands remain in second place with five points, just ahead of third-placed Germany with four points.

Looking Ahead to the Match Against Serbia

Serbia, who sit at the bottom of the group, have yet to collect a single point after suffering three consecutive defeats in the group.

Next, Xavi will prepare his squad to host struggling Serbia in the Netherlands on Sunday.

The match will bring the current international break to a close, while also providing an important opportunity for the Netherlands to secure a victory.