Meerdink's brace lifts Netherlands past Serbia 2-1 in Nations League

Mexx Meerdink scored twice as the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 at Rajko Mitic Stadium in a UEFA Nations League match that Serbia started losing from the penalty spot and never quite managed to turn around.

The Dutch forward opened the scoring in the 29th minute after Aleksa Terzic fouled Crysencio Summerville inside the box, and Meerdink himself converted the penalty with his left foot. Serbia, though, didn't fold and found the equalizer right before halftime: in the 45th minute, Luka Jovic, who had come on among the substitutions made just before the close of the first half, finished low with his left foot after an assist from Sasa Lukic, a goal that was confirmed following a VAR review. The teams went into the break tied 1-1.

In the second half, the Dutch kept pushing down the flanks and found the breakthrough again through Meerdink, who struck left-footed from the center of the box in the 68th minute off an assist from Guus Til to make it 1-2, which proved to be the final score. Serbia pressed hard in the closing stretch, with shots from Filip Kostic and Jovic saved by Bart Verbruggen, but couldn't find a way to extend the scoring.

Numbers that confirm the dominance

The gap on the field showed up clearly in the stat sheet. The Netherlands controlled the ball comfortably and generated far more attacking volume than Serbia, which could barely string together attacks in the first 30 minutes or after the restart.

The xG numbers (estimated from shot location, not a pre-match prediction) also back up what was seen on the field: 1.974 for Serbia against 3.924 for the Netherlands, a gap that confirms the Dutch side not only won but deserved to, given the sheer volume of chances it created.

What it means for the group standings

The result puts the Netherlands atop Group A2 with 4 points from 2 games played, level on points with Greece but ahead in the table. Serbia, meanwhile, remains without a point after two matches, with a goal difference of -2. The gap between the two sides in the standings is 4 points, a fairly accurate reflection of what played out on the pitch at Rajko Mitic Stadium.

For Serbia, the frustration lies in the chances created: the team generated enough to take something from the match, with Jovic a key figure in several of those moments, but Dutch efficiency and Meerdink's brace ended up tipping the balance. For the Netherlands, the win confirms a solid march at the top of the group, built on control of possession and an attack that kept pressing for all 90 minutes.