Dutch into last 16

2006-06-16 20:09

Stuttgart - The Netherlands have booked a place in the last 16 of the World Cup with a thrilling 2-1 win over a spirited Ivory Coast in a Group C match.

The result spelt heartbreak for the African Nations Cup runners-up, however, with Argentina's 6-0 trouncing of Serbia and Montenegro earlier on Friday, assuring the South Americans got the other qualifying spot from the group of death.

The Dutch took the lead with two goals midway through the first-half, but Ivory Coast hit back with a goal before the interval and gave the Dutch a real run for their money throughout a pulsating match.

Robin van Persie, who cut a solitary figure in the Netherlands' opening 1-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday, was a constant thorn in the Africans' side and it was no surprise when one of many jinking runs ended with a free-kick on the edge of the area in the 23rd minute.

The Arsenal winger stepped up and blasted in a curling left-footed free-kick just over the head of the diminutive Arthur Boka, the last man in the Ivory Coast wall and beyond the reach of diving goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie.

The Dutch lead was doubled four minutes later, a deft through ball by Arjen Robben falling into the path of the advancing Ruud van Nistlerooy.

Good possession for Africans

The out-of-favour Manchester United striker, whom Dutch coach Marco van Basten kept faith with despite the admission he was out of form, calmly stroked home past the stranded Tizie for his first World Cup goal.

But Ivory Coast pulled one back in the 38th minute through Nice striker Bakary Kone who was allowed to run across the face of the edge of the penalty box before drilling an excellent shot high beyond Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

That crowned a period of good possession for the Africans, who had come within inches of scoring five minutes earlier through Didier Zokora, whose cracking shot beat van der Sar only to come back off the woodwork.

Didier Drogba, who was booked for fouling van der Sar and will miss the last match against the Serbs, missed the chance to draw the Ivory Coast level in the 42nd minute, making a hash of a two-on-one with fellow striker Aruna Kone unmarked and the goalline begging.

Kone then went close in injury time with a shot that rifled over van der Sar's crossbar.

Up to the task

The second-half opened with several shots on target, the best effort coming from a van Nistelrooy pile-driver that drifted high at the last moment.

Aruna Kone then blasted over the crossbar as the Dutch defence seemed happy to hang off the dangerous midfield thrusts of Ivory Coast.

Drogba led the charge even though the introduction by van Basten of imposing Hamburg hardman Khalid Boulahrouz did add some steel to the Dutch back four.

Robben, whose darting sorties had been well tracked by Emmanuel Eboue in the game, had his first shot on goal in the 70th minute, but Tizie was up to the task. An effort with five minutes to play was blasted high.

Van Persie turned saviour in the 77th minute, chesting away a dangerous Drogba header that had nutmegged Boulahrouz, beaten van der Sar and was headed for the back of the net.

The Africans continued to press and the Dutch captain was forced into a series of smart saves, notably of a Gilles Yapi Yapo shot, in the tense closing moments.-AFP

- AFP