Netherlands player Cody Gakpo scored again at the World Cup but the Netherlands missed the chance to secure a place in the last 16 on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Ecuador at the Khalifa International Stadium.

And one consequence of this result is that the host nation, already beaten twice, are the first team to be eliminated from their own World Cup.

Ecuador fought back with such ferocity that the Dutch were rattled, and they deserved the equaliser when it came through Enner Valencia four minutes after half-time.

It was Ecuador captain Valencia's third goal of the World Cup already after his brace in his country's opening win over Qatar.

In contrast three-time beaten finalists the Netherlands are not quite through to the next round, with one point separating them, Ecuador and Senegal, who defeated Qatar 3-1 earlier.

Ecuador and Senegal meet in the last round of Group A matches next Tuesday, while Louis van Gaal's Dutch side meet the hosts knowing a draw will make certain their place in the knockout phase.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul