Dirk Kuyt handed the Netherlands a 5-3 win over Hungary on Tuesday. The Liverpool striker netted twice in the last fifteen minutes.
The Dutch crowd came to the Amsterdam Arena with high expectations after the 4-0 show against the Maygars in Budapest last Friday. The Orange fans did not get another FC Barcelona-like football show however. Robin van Persie scored the opener in the 13th minute but the Dutch were not able to control the match and Hungary fought back.
Bert van Marwijk was irritated but relieved: “We lost the ball too much, we played sloppy and we wanted show-off too much.” The Dutch coach only complimented one player. “Afellay was execellent today. He was very good, pressuring his opponent and playing an awesome offensive game as well.”
Early in the second half Gergely Rudolf leveled the score with a deflected shot and a few minutes later the visitors even took the lead when the unlucky leftback Erik Pieters gave Zoltan Gera the opportunity to score 2-1.
Wesley Sneijder scored 2-2 and Ruud van Nistelrooy added the 3-2. Hungary did not give up however and Gera leveled the score again in the 75th minute. The Hungarian striker thus became the first player to score 20 goals for Hungary since József Kiprich in 1991. Three minutes later Kuyt netted a very precise Ibrahim Afellay assist to put the Dutch up again and in the 81st minute he wrapped up the game with a beautiful but lucky goal. The Liverpool striker lifted the ball over goalkeeper Márton Fülöp but admitted that he intended the ball as an assist for Van Nistelrooy, who replaced the slightly injured Van Persie in the second half.
Van Nistelrooy scored his 35th international goal and he equaled Faas Wilkes’ career total of 35 goals. Only Patrick Kluivert (40) and Dennis Bergkamp (37) scored more goals for Netherlands. Van Nistelrooy also equaled Johan Cruijff with a record 22 goals in ECh and WC qualification matches.
Bert van Marwijk was irritated but relieved: “We lost the ball too much, we played sloppy and we wanted show-off too much.” The Dutch coach only complimented one player. “Afellay was execellent today. He was very good, pressuring his opponent and playing an awesome offensive game as well.”
Early in the second half Gergely Rudolf leveled the score with a deflected shot and a few minutes later the visitors even took the lead when the unlucky leftback Erik Pieters gave Zoltan Gera the opportunity to score 2-1.
Wesley Sneijder scored 2-2 and Ruud van Nistelrooy added the 3-2. Hungary did not give up however and Gera leveled the score again in the 75th minute. The Hungarian striker thus became the first player to score 20 goals for Hungary since József Kiprich in 1991. Three minutes later Kuyt netted a very precise Ibrahim Afellay assist to put the Dutch up again and in the 81st minute he wrapped up the game with a beautiful but lucky goal. The Liverpool striker lifted the ball over goalkeeper Márton Fülöp but admitted that he intended the ball as an assist for Van Nistelrooy, who replaced the slightly injured Van Persie in the second half.
Van Nistelrooy scored his 35th international goal and he equaled Faas Wilkes’ career total of 35 goals. Only Patrick Kluivert (40) and Dennis Bergkamp (37) scored more goals for Netherlands. Van Nistelrooy also equaled Johan Cruijff with a record 22 goals in ECh and WC qualification matches.
