Sneijder rocket wins it for Dutch
Posted: Jun 19 2010
Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal of the game as Netherlands beat Japan in Durban on Saturday.
The Dutch have now collected six points from two games and are sitting in pole position to qualify for the next round. Japan have three points from two matches and need a result in their final match if they are to survive.
Oranje started the match the better side and got their first chance after eight minutes, but Sneijder’s free-kick sailed over the bar. Dirk Kuyt then tried his luck with an acrobatic bicycle-kick after a cross from the left, but his shot was blocked by the Japanese defence before being cleared into safety.
The Asians made a foray into Dutch territory in the 15th minute. Defender Yuji Nakazawa created some space down the left and tried his luck from 25 yards, only to see his shot bounce wide at the far post.
Holland struggled to break through the Japanese defence, but full-back Gregory van der Wiel still managed to get a shot in halfway the first half. His attempt was eventually blocked though and led to nothing.
Japan won a free-kick deep in Dutch territory around the half-hour mark and Yasuhito Endo send in a good cross for Keisuke Honda, but he sent his free header way over the bar.
Another free-kick from Endo minutes later led to a chance for Tulio, but the powerful centre-back aimed wide and the chance went begging. Daisuke Matsui unleashed a shot from the edge of the box only moments later, but Maarten Stekelenburg collected the ball with ease.
The Japanese goalie got called into action for the first time only seconds before the half-time whistle. Rafael van der Vaart opted to test the Asian goalie with a long range strike, but his shot was too weak to trouble Seigo Narazaki.
Netherlands started the second half with attacking intentions and got a good chance only one minute after the interval. Mark van Bommel found Van Persie with a lovely pass, but the Arsenal star failed to get his volley on target.
The Dutch eventually opened the scoring after 53 minutes. The Japanese defence failed to clear the ball and Sneijder fired home the loose ball from the edge of the area, though the goalie really should have done better.
Japan were clearly not giving up after the opener and Yoshito Okubo almost drew things level again. However, his low shot went only inches wide of the Dutch target.
Okobu found Yuichi Komano streaking up the right flank in the 70th minute and his low cross caused the Dutch defence all kinds of trouble. Van der Wiel intercepted the cross though before Honda could get to it.
Holland missed a golden opportunity to put the match to bed five minutes before the final whistle. Afellay went one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a superb pass, but the PSV star was denied by an excellent save from Narazaki.
Again Afellay got a great chance only minutes later after a brilliant through pass from Huntelaar. However, his finish was again under par and the Japan goalie saved his shot.
Japan then nearly equalized in the dying seconds of the game as Okazaki pounced on a loose ball inside the Dutch penalty area, but his shot went just over the bar.
72
53 
Comment on this article:
TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com