Dominant Dutch drive on
Two goals, one early in the first half and one late in the second, proved enough as Holland beat giant-killers Slovakia 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium here on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Fifa World Cup.
The returning Arjen Robben, who was in the starting XI for the first time in the tournament put the Oranje ahead in the 18th minute thanks to a defence-splitting 70-yard pass from Wesley Sneijder. The Inter Milan lynchpin got in on the act and settled the issue with a neat finish seven minutes from the end.
Slovakia got a consolation goal in injury-time as Robert Vittek scored from the spot with the last kick of the match to join Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina as the tournament’s leading goal-scorer with four goals.
The proceedings got off on a slow note and most of the play was limited to the midfield. Holland went ahead with a superbly executed counter-attack that was set forth by a 70-yard diagonal long pass which released Robben. The Bayern Munich winger found space between three defenders and slotted the ball past the outstretched hands of Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha.
The teams went into the break with a similar scoreline as Slovakia failed to get a single shot attempt on target.
The Dutch were eager to kill off hopes of a Slovakia comeback and laid siege to the rival goalmouth. Robben almost doubled the advantage with a similar strike to his first goal. Cutting in from the left flank the winger found space to get off his shot that Mucha tipped to safety with the edge of his fingertips.
Holland failed to make their domination count on the scoresheet and were almost made to pay for it in the 67th minute. Winger Miroslav Stoch slipped away from the two centrebacks and struck a powerful right-footer which Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg tipped over the crossbar for a corner.
A minute later Vittek got a perfect chance to level things up as he found the ball inside the penalty box but he hit straight at Stekelenburg who parried the ball to safety.
Holland doubled their advantage in the 83rd minute. Dirk Kuyt beat an advancing Mucha to the ball and laid it off for Sneijder who slotted the ball cheekily between the legs of the last defender into an open net.
Slovakia got their consolation the fourth minute of stoppage-time as Stekelenburg tripped Vittek inside the penalty box. The lanky striker, who struck a brace against world champions Italy, coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper as the referee blew the final whistle.
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