Dutchmen come back from behind to beat Aussies 3-2
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Group B, Match 3
Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie stole the show with two goals each in the Netherlands' 5-1 demolition of Spain in their opening game last week, and the duo once again took centre stage by scoring again in Porto Alegre on Wednesday, reports Goal.com.
Tim Cahill earlier cancelled out Robben's opener with a contender for one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, before a controversial penalty from Mile Jedinak nine minutes after the restart had Ange Postecoglou's men dreaming of a famous upset.
However, van Persie quickly quashed those hopes by levelling in the 58th minute with a neat finish inside the area.
And Memphis Depay – who had come on as a substitute for the injured Bruno Martins Indi - broke Australian hearts with a speculative effort that goalkeeper Mat Ryan will feel he should have kept out.
Louis van Gaal's men can now become the first team to qualify for the round of 16 if Group B's other match between holders Spain and Chile ends in victory for the latter or a draw. Australia, meanwhile, face a near impossible task to progress having lost both group games.
Robben's third goal of the tournament in the 20th minute ensured the match exploded into life after a lacklustre opening.
The winger escaped the attention of Alex Wilkinson on the halfway line and surged into the box before drilling a low, angled shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
That lead proved short-lived, however, as Cahill equalised less than 60 seconds later with a goal of the highest quality that will live long in the memory.
Ryan McGowan – playing at right-back in the absence of the injured Ivan Franjic - pinged a superb cross-field pass towards Cahill, who watched the ball over his shoulder and lashed an unstoppable left-foot volley that crashed past the helpless Jasper Cillessen and struck the crossbar before nestling in the net.
It could have been even better for Australia on the half-hour mark, Mathew Leckie fizzed a ball across the area, but the onrushing Mark Bresciano could only side-foot over the bar.
The half ended on a sour note for the Netherlands when Martins Indi was carried off the pitch on a stretcher after a poorly timed challenge from Cahill, who received a booking that means he misses Australia's final group game with Spain.
It got even worse for the Netherlands after the break. Van Persie was first cautioned for an elbow on Matthew Spiranovic that rules him out of the last group game with Chile, before Jedinak put Australia ahead from the spot in 54th minute.
Referee Djamel Haimoudi deemed Oliver Bozanic's cross had been handled by Daryl Janmaat and Jedinak kept his cool to send Cillessen the wrong way.
However, four minutes later, the Netherlands restored parity.
Wesley Sneijder's intricate throughball was collected by van Persie and the Manchester United striker turned well in the area before rifling a shot into the roof of the net for his 11th goal in his last 10 international appearances.
And, with just over 20 minutes remaining, the Dutch turnaround was complete.
Van Persie's clever run saw the pitch open up for Depay and his speculative effort from 25-yards found its way home via a costly error from Ryan.
Australia pushed forward in the closing stages in desperate search of an equaliser, but the Netherlands easily dealt with the danger to all-but book their place in the last 16.
Man of the Match: A Robben (NED)
Match Commentary - as it happened
The referee blows his whistle to end a very entertaining match, with the Dutch ultimately coming out on top, despite an unconvincing display. Jedinak's penalty gave Australia a deserved lead and the Dutch looked in trouble, but typically Van Persie netted his third of the tournament and then Depay netted the winner. Ryan will be disappointed with his efforts for the winner, however, letting it slip through his hands.
90` + 4` FULL-TIME!
90` + 3` Good late chance for Lens to add a fourth, but after cutting in on to his right foot inside the area, the forward hits a stinging effort at Ryan.
90` + 2` Australia are running out of time. They win themselves a free-kick just inside the Dutch half, but they play it short and lose possession quickly. Netherlands eye a counter now.
90` Three minutes of stoppage time has been added.
88` Off goes Van Persie, who didn't appear to be injured. Lens comes on in his place to offer pace on the counter.
87` Substitution: Robin van Persie out, Jeremain Lens in.
86` Van Persie goes tumbling on the edge of the Aussie area following an aerial clash and seems to be hurt. However, he soon gets up when the referee tells him he isn't getting a free-kick.
84` Australia are still pressing for a late equaliser here, but the Netherlands are looking to take the sting out of everything. Even their own attacks now don't look dangerous. They do, however, have plenty of numbers back.
82` Leckie delivers the free-kick, but it is easily headed clear by the Dutch, who immediately look to start a counterattack, to little effect.
80` The dangerous Leckie goes down easily again, but he probably deserves the free-kick in this instances. He cuts in from the left and is bundled over by Wijnaldum.w
78` Substitution: Jonathan De Guzmán out, Georginio Wijnaldum in.
78` Australia have penalty claims turned down as Leckie goes tumbling under the pressure of Janmaat, but replays suggest he made the most of minimal contact. Vlaar was not impressed.
77` Substitution: Thomas Oar out, Adam Taggart in.
76` Robben is adamant that he should have been given a free-kick on the right flank after being felled by Davidson, but replays show they were both fouling each other, really. Australia get the decision, though.
74` Robben steps up to the free-kick and although his shot gets through the wall, Ryan is equal to it, plucking it out of the air comfortably.
73` Free-kick in a dangerous position now for the Dutch after Robben was hauled to the floor. Australia look shellshocked, while the Netherlands can smell blood.
71` The Netherlands' chief tormentor in the first half - Cahill - has gone off, being replaced by Halloran. Will that be the last time we see him in a World Cup match?
69` Substitution: Tim Cahill out, Ben Halloran in.
68` Assist Jonathan De Guzmán
68` Goal Memphis Depay
67` HUGE CHANCE FOR AUSTRALIA! Oar does brilliantly on the left and finds himself free in the area. Insted of shooting, he opts to cross towards Leckie, whose chested effort is easy for Cillessen.
66` Clever play by Sneijder down the left as he skips past one challenge before trying to slip Depay into a dangerous area, but the ball goes out of play as the winger stretched to keep it in play.
64` Van Persie is lucky not to receive a second yellow card. The forward produces a dangerous challenge on McGowan, who looks in some pain, but the referee lets him escape without a second yellow.
62` Depay has looked dangerous on the few occasions he has been given the ball so far and he is again. This time he runs at McGowan, skips on to his right foot and then crosses, but it is cut out just before Van Persie can get his head to it.
60` Well, what a match we are being treated to at the moment. Who would have seen this coming when we were praying for even half chances early on?
58` Assist Memphis Depay
58` Goal Robin van Persie
GOAL!!! NETHERLANDS EQUALISE! Van Persie latches on to a clever pass into the danger area by Sneijder and he rifles an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net. That was never getting saved.
57` More danger for the Dutch to contend with. Cahill slips Brozovic in to the left and he digs a cross out, but Vlaar nods it behind. They look so shaken.
56` Following their win over Spain, perhaps the Netherlands have been believing their own hype? They look a shadow of themselves from that meeting.
54` Penalty Goal Mile Jedinak
53` PENALTY TO AUSTRALIA! Brozovic does well to get into the left side of the Dutch area and after attempting to trick his way past Janmaat, he fires a cross on to the right-back's hand.
51` Substitution: Mark Bresciano out, Oliver Bozanic in.
50` Good try by Sneijder! The midfielder finds space on the edge of the area and fires a powerful dipping strike towards the bottom-left post, but Ryan tips it wide. Good stop.
49` Following that substitution at the end of the first half, Depay will slot into an attacking position on either flank, with Van Gaal operating for a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
47` Yellow Card Robin van Persie
47` Van Persie is the latest to go into the referee's book. The forward's elbow seemed to catch Spiranovic near the face, but the Australia defender made the most of that. Van Persie is now suspended for their next match.
46` Australia have the ball in the net just a few seconds after the restart, but it won't count. Leckie appeared to nudge Blind illegally, before poking past Cillessen.
The referee brings to an end a first half which did eventually come to life. Netherlands have so far been unable to duplicate their sensational performance against Spain, even though they took the lead. Many would have expected them to push on and really make the most of their advantage following Robben's strike, but less than two minutes later Australia were level thanks to an outrageous Cahill volley. Since then, Australia were arguably the better side. Van Gaal has work to do.
45` + 3` HALF-TIME!
45` + 2` Substitution: Bruno Martins Indi out, Memphis Depay in.
45` + 1` There are to be at least three minutes of added time.
45` Play still has not resumed as Martins Indi receives extended treatment. A stretcher is out and the defender does not look like he will be able to continue.
43` Yellow Card Tim Cahill
41` Van Persie is looking increasingly frustrated. The United star tries to make an impact in the air as he challenges Spiranovic when trying to bring down a lofted pass, but he is ultimately penalised.
39` Van Gaal's side are seeing plenty of possession in defence, but they aren't having a lot of it anywhere else. The coach undoubtedly has plenty of work to do at the break.
37` Before the tournament, how many would have predicted Australia to prove sterner opposition than Spain? Very few, but so far it is true. Postecoglou's side are not looking particularly threatened.
35` Australia are the only side who look like scoring at the moment, and the Netherlands look shaken. Postecoglu's men have to remain aware at the back, however. The Dutch showed their immense counter-attacking ability against Spain.
33` Another chance goes begging! Oar's free-kick delivery from deep on the right is not dealt with by Netherlands and it drops kindly for Spiranovic, but he can't get enough purchase on the shot and Cillessen collects with ease.
31` BRESCIANO GOES CLOSE! Leckie causes problems again down the right and as before, his cross comes back towards the edge of the area. Bresciano arrives late and drives a powerful strike on goal, but it goes just over.
29` Tentative penalty claims from the Dutch as Robben gets in down the left and fires a powerful cross into the danger area, which Spiranovic blocks well. It was not blocked with his arm, as claimed by some of the crowd.
27` The Dutch are trying to push men forward, but the Aussies are doing an effective job of forcing the back, particularly with their full-backs showing plenty of attacking intent.
25` Decent effort by Vlaar! Sneijder whipped in a dangerous delivery from a corner and the Aston Villa man rose highest to meet it, but his headed attempt goes just wide of the far post.
23` What a sensational couple of minutes in Porto Alegre. A moment of weakness from Wilkinson at one end helped give the Dutch the lead, while a moment of magic drew them level. More of the same, please!
21` Goal Tim Cahill
GOAL!!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STRIKE! Cahill races on to a lofted ball from near the halfway line and, after peeling away from a Dutch defender, the forward unleashes an outrageous left-footed volley. The effort smashes against the crossbar and then finds the net.
21` Assist Ryan McGowan
20` Goal Arjen Robben
GOAL!!! Netherlands take the lead in Porto Alegre! Robben does brilliantly as he takes the ball down on the half-way line, bursts past Wilkinson and then charges all the way to the Aussie area, before drilling low past Ryan.
17` The Dutch clear the corner fairly easily, but Cahill isn't at all impressed with the attention shown to him by Martins Indi. The Feyenoord defender was all over him, as shown by the replays, but the referee wasn't interested.
16` SOME SLIGHT EXCITEMENT! Leckie does excellently down the right for the Aussies, as he skips past Blind with ease before marching up the wing. He delivers a well-placed cross towards the edge of the area, but Bresciano's effort is deflected wide.
14` And now the supporters are engaging in a rather long-winded Mexican wave. Says it all, really.
12` This has not been an enthralling start so far. The Dutch look comfortable, if unspectacular, while Australia appear short of ideas when in possession.
10` Dangerous back-pass by De Guzman! The Swansea midfielder tracked back well to eradicate the danger posed by McKay, but his ball back to Cillessen is weak. Luckily for him, however, the goalkeeper manages to clear just in time.
8` Australia will be encouraged that they have seen plenty of the ball during these opening stages. Their opponents, meanwhile, look very patient. However, it should be noted that the Netherlands' meeting with Spain had a similar pattern early on.
6` Nearly the first chance of the match! Robben seized on poor control by Spiranovic and burst towards the Australia penalty area, but the Bayern star stumbles and loses control of the ball.
5` Martins Indi is back on the field after receiving treatment and he slips back into his position at the heart of the defence.
3` Cahill is the latest to inflict some physical pain on an opponent. Martins Indi makes a clearance and the Aussie forward catches him late. Again, the referee keeps his cards in his pocket.
2` De Jong leaves his mark on Tommy Oar with an aggressive stamp, which appeared to be two-footed. The referee shows no card, but Australia do get themselves a free-kick about 30 yards from goal.
A dreadful start against Chile in Australia's group opener saw them fall 2-0 down and although they did put one back through Cahill, Jorge Sampaoli's men eventually added a late third. The former Everton forward proved particularly effective against Chile's diminutive back line, but you would expect him to have a tougher time today. Defeat today for the Aussies would effectively see them eliminated.
Netherlands got their campaign off to a simply stunning start with a 5-1 win over reigning world champions Spain. Van Persie and Robben put in excellent displays for Louis van Gaal's side, while the likes of Daley Blind, Nigel de Jong and Bruno Martins Indi also impressed. A win here today will virtually confirm the Netherlands' passage to the knockout phase, while Australia are in a contrasting situation.
Netherlands subs: Subs: Krul, Vorm, Verhaegh, Veltman, Kongolo, Kuyt, Clasie, Lens, Fer, Huntelaar, Wijnaldum, Depay.
Netherlands (5-3-2): Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; De Guzmán, De Jong, Sneijder; Robben, Van Persie.
Australia subs: Subs: Franjic, Milligan, Wright, Taggart, Halloran, Langerak, Bozanic, Troisi, Holland, Galekovic, Vidosic, Luongo
Australia (4-5-1): Ryan; Mc Gowan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Davidson; Jedinak, Mc Kay, Leckie, Bresciano, Oar; Cahill.
Commentary & Report: Goal dot com
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