One composed slide into the far corner ended a night of pressure and gave Xavi Hernández his first victory in charge of the Netherlands. Mexx Meerdink's 69th-minute finish settled a tense 2-1 win over Serbia at the Rajko Mitić Stadion and lifted the Dutch to four points in UEFA Nations League Group A2.
The scoreline was far tighter than the flow of play suggested. The Netherlands controlled 67% of possession and produced 25 total shots to Serbia's 11, yet needed a substitute's sharp pass and a forward's decisive touch to avoid another frustrating draw.
Meerdink opens his senior account from the spot
Meerdink, elevated to the starting lineup after Brian Brobbey's hamstring injury, announced himself in the 30th minute. Crysencio Summerville was pushed down inside the box by Aleksa Terzić, and referee Szymon Marciniak pointed to the spot. The AZ forward stroked the penalty coolly into the bottom-right corner for his first senior international goal on his first start.
The moment arrived amid early disruption for the visitors. Cody Gakpo, who had rescued a point with a late volley against Germany three days earlier, was forced off just 17 minutes into this contest following a heavy challenge from Saša Lukić. The Netherlands regrouped, kept the ball, and found their opener through Meerdink's composure.
Jović punishes Dutch hesitation immediately
Serbia's response came less than a minute into the second half. The Dutch defense failed to clear their lines, and Luka Jović capitalized on the unconvincing clearance to slot home inside the area. Lukić supplied the assist, turning from early antagonist to creator as Serbia pulled level at 1-1.
For a side that had lost their opening two matches without a clean sheet, the equalizer offered a lifeline. Serbia had only 33% possession but made their six shots on target count enough to threaten an upset.
Til's introduction breaks Serbia's resistance
The match swung on a substitution. Guus Til entered and, in the 69th minute, slipped a sharp pass into the penalty area. Meerdink met it with a first-time slide finish into the far corner, restoring the Netherlands' lead and completing his double.
From there the Dutch managed the game through possession, restricting Serbia to half-chances despite the hosts' late pressure. The 2-1 scoreline held through full time, giving the Netherlands their first win under Hernández.
The result leaves Serbia bottom of Group A2 with zero points from two matches, while the Netherlands sit second with four points. The gap between the sides now feels significant: Serbia face a steep climb to remain competitive in League A, while the Dutch carry momentum into their fixture against Greece with a new coach finally off the mark.
Match Information
Competition: UEFA Nations League
Date & Time: Sunday 27 September 2026, 18:00 CET
Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadion, Belgrade
Referee: Szymon Marciniak
