Match Review & Highlights: Netherlands 2-1 Slovakia

June 28th, 2010 | by: Daryl | View Comments

Netherlands beat Slovakia 2-1 in the Round of 16, thanks to classic piece of Arjen Robbenry. We’ve mocked the man’s injury attracting hamstrings here on World Cup Blog, but Robben proved once again today that even half fit, he’s basically unstoppable.

Take a look at Netherland’s first goal, in which Wesley Sneijder plays a perfect long pass ahead of Robben, who cuts in from the right and shoots inside the near post with his left foot:

Nice little diversion by Robin van Persie too. I think underlines just how good Robben is when a player as talented as Robin van Persie is best used as a decoy to make room for Robben’s left foot.

That was the 18th minute, and I assumed at that point that Slovakia were all set for a beating. Yet though Oranje controlled the game, they couldn’t find a second, and could have conceded an equalizer in the 67th minute when Robert Vittek took an expert first touch inside the penalty area and made space to shoot, but couldn’t get the ball past Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg (who critics keep touting as Netherlands’ weak link, despite a lack of evidence in the tournament so far).

Robben subbed out to save his legs for the quarter-final, and the Netherlands finally found a second in the 84th minute. It was Dirk Kuyt who did the simple things correctly, controlling a long pass and rolling the ball into the path of Wesley Sneijder:

There’s no way Sneijder was missing from there. Kuyt celebrated by slinging Sneijder on his back and – I feel bad saying this, but it’s uncanny – reminding everyone of their favourite 1980s kids adventure movie:

Slovakia did pull one back, Vittek both winning and converting a penalty to score his fourth goal of the tournament:

That makes Vittek joint top scorer with Gonzalo Higuain, but there was no time for any more, as referee Alberto Undiano blew for full time with the ball still in the back of the net.

So, Slovakia out. But a great achievement to reach the Round of 16. Netherlands advance with a 100% winning record, and will face the winner of Brazil vs Chile in the quarter-final.