Goals from Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Memphis Depay gave Netherlands a 3-2 win over Australia in a pulsating Group B encounter.
Louis van Gaal named an unchanged XI from the team that beat Spain last week, with Ron Vlaar passed fit and Robin van Persie leading the line. The Oceania side meanwhile, made two changes from the XI that lost 3-1 to Chile, as Ryan McGowan and Matt McKay come in for Ivan Franjic and Mark Milligan respectively.
Despite that though, it was in fact the Socceroos who got off to the better start, having the majority of the ball and generally controlling the tempo of the game
The Dutch were struggling to match the intensity they showed against La Roja in Salvador last Friday, but with both defences standing strong, chances in the game were at a premium.
In fact, a shot on goal didn’t come until 15 minutes as Mark Bresciano crashed an effort against Bruno Martins Indi and out for a corner.
The Oranje had the obvious class though, and that showed on 20 minutes. Robben swerved past Jason Davidson, raced in on goal and struck low past Matthew Ryan for his third goal of the tournament.
The game then sprung to life, as Australia went straight up the other end and scored possibly the goal of the World Cup. A long cross-field pass found Tim Cahill, and the New York Red Bulls man hit an amazing volley from the edge of the area in past Jasper Cillessen for an equaliser.
After the break, it was the European’s who went closest to getting in front early on as Wesley Sneijder forced a save from Ryan, but the goalkeeper was equal to the shot and palmed it round the post.
But amazingly, with 54 minutes gone, Australia got themselves in front. Daryl Janmaat handled inside the area, and there was Mile Jedinak to convert from the spot
Just as in the first half though, an equaliser came quickly. Memphis Depay played in Van Persie with a reverse pass, and the Manchester United man finished superbly from inside the area.
And 10 minutes later, the Dutch grabbed a third. Depay found himself in space 35 yards from goal, and shot past Ryan and into the bottom right-hand corner.
Ange Postecoglu’s men kept probing for another goal that would get them a share of the points, but it wasn’t forthcoming as they go into their final game against Spain out of the competition.
Australia 2-3 Netherlands
Scorers: Cahill 21 (A), Jedinak 54 pen (A); Robben 20 (N), Van Persie 58 (N), Memphis 68 (N)
Australia: Ryan, Davidson, Cahill (Halloran 70), Spiranovic, Leckie, Oar (Taggart 77), Jedniak (c), McKay, McGowan, Wilkinson, Bresciano (Bozanic 52)
Netherlands: Cillessen, Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi (Depay 45), Blind; De Guzman (Wijnaldum 78), De Jong, Sneijder; Robben, Van Persie (Lens 87)
