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2010 World Cup: Netherlands 2-0 Denmark - Report

Angela Asante, June 14 2010,
The Netherlands vs Denmark match didn’t start with the tone everyone was expecting from the Oranje especially. But the second part of the encounter explained that the Dutch gradually adapted to their game to eventually steal a 2-0 at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Holland players celebrate against Denmark.
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Netherlands vs Denmark, First Half: A balanced game

With both teams trying to cancel each other out, the match was more concentrated in the midfield area of the pitch. The first closest attempt on goal came through Nicklas Bendtner’s 27th minute header. The striker tried to connect with a decent cross coming in from the right wing, but he drove the ball just wide.

Two minutes later, Nigel De Jong caught Denmark’s Captain Jorgensen with a horrible tackle on his ankle. Referee Lannoy allowed play to continue before holding off the game for a while to assist the injured player who was suffering on the ground. Back on his feet, Jorgensen didn’t need to be substituted and he kept leading his side with the aim of getting something out of the match.

 

At the half hour mark, the Netherlands who were then enjoying over 60% of ball possession came knocking on Denmark’s door again. Kuyt crossed beautifully from the right hand side of the field and De Jong was inches away from knocking the ball past the keeper. But a good defense from the Danes saw the ball go out for a corner which quickly preceded another one. The latter saw the Danes break away rapidly. Rommedahl fired a long range shot to complete Denmark’s great move on the counter attack, but goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen impressively grabbed the ball.

In the first period of the match, Nicklas Bendtner was actually the Danes’ most dangerous player but as the Oranje maintained a strong back line, it was difficult for the Arsenal man to do anything too serious. At the other end of the field, a gifted opportunity fell onto Robin Van Persie following a dreadful defensive mistake from Denmark. But the striker selfishly preferred to dribble his way out before firing a disappointing shot that went out for a goal kick. At half time, neither side had been able to trouble the other. The score line remained goalless.

Netherlands vs Denmark, Second Half: It’s All Over For The Danish DynamiteRommedahl tries to go past Holland's defense.

In a blink of an eye, the Netherlands found themselves 1-0 up. Daniel Agger in fact got the ball at the back of the net for the Oranje to be offered the lead seconds into the second period of the match. Danish Defender Poulsen actually cleared Robin Van Persie’s ball from a cross away with a header. However, it bounced off Daniel Agger and eventually deceived the entire Denmark team. 

At the 59th minute, goalkeeper Sorensen expertly grabbed Van der Vaart’s volley which almost perfectly finished off Robin Van Persie outstanding ball control and movement in the penalty area. Van Persie again thought he had been given a glorious chance to double Holland’s lead but the referee whistled for offside before the striker complained that he had not heard the call due to the intensive noise created by the crowd’s Vuvuzela horns.

Substitute and youngster Eljero Elia injected pace with his skill on the left wing. He initiated another great attack for the Netherlands. Now after series of good passes around the penalty area, Van Bommel finally fired a shot from quite a tight angle on the left. But his ball couldn’t find the net as goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was alert. 73 minutes gone down the clock and the score line was still 1-0 only to the Dutch.

Robin Van Persie might have been to blame for failing to get the right final touches upfront. But Denmark’s dynamic midfield would also have to be credited for preventing the Oranje from really pressing them hard. Well, Van Persie was taken out with about 15 minutes of the game remaining. The Arsenal striker was replaced by Afellay.

The latter’s first important contribution came inside the 78th minute of the game when he sent in a powerful square ball from the left wing inside the penalty box. However, no Dutch player was there to tap it into the back of the net and the Danes could breathe a little. At the 81st minute, a trademark flawless game on the attack by the Netherlands terminated with Wesley Sneijder executing a great volley which saw the ball tipped away by the alert Thomas Sorensen before bouncing off the crossbar for a corner.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen produces a save.With a few minutes of normal time remaining, it seemed harder for Denmark to score at the other end of the field – especially with Eljero doing his business on the left wing. Unfortunately for the Danes, the most agonizing moment of the match occurred when Dirk Kuyt rounded up the Netherlands’ victory with an 85th minute goal.

The dynamic Eljero was in fact sent through on goal by Wesley Sneijder. The young talent sprinted forward to connect with the ball. His shot only hit the foot of the post but Dirk Kuyt was there to easily put the ball past the goal line; 2-0. Three minutes later, Ibrahim Afellay almost made it 3-0. The substituted was ready to celebrate after firing a shot that beat Thomas Sorensen but Poulsen spectacularly cleared the ball away off the line.

Dirk Kuyt tried his luck once more into injury time but his long range went off target. That shot was the last attempt on goal in the match. Holland had accomplished their mission of winning on match-day 1 with midfielder Wesley Sneijder being named as the Man of the Match. It’s now down to Cameroon and Japan to try and join them at the top of Group E.
 

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