2010 World Cup: Netherlands v Cameroon full time report
Netherlands 2 Cameroon 1
The Netherlands made it three wins out of three thanks to goals from Robin Van Persie and Klass-Jan Huntelaar in a 2-1 win over Cameroon at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.
Cameroon disappointingly ended their group campaign losing all of their games. The Dutch will now play Slovakia in the last 16, and with Japan defeating Denmark 3-1 in the other group game, the Japanese will play Paraguay.
Van Persie gave the Dutch the lead on 36 minutes after he played a beautiful one-two with Rafael Van der Vaart to neatly finish with his supposedly weaker right foot, putting the ball through the legs of Cameroon shot-stopper Hamidou Souleymanou.
Huntelaar scored the winner seven minutes from time after incisive Dutch build-up. Arjen Robben was the recipient of a wonderful Wesley Sneijder pass played from inside his own half. As the Bayern Munich winger cut onto his left foot, he rifled in a shot against the post, with the rebound falling to Huntelaar.
Aurélien Chedjou had the first chance of the match for Cameroon. His left-footed shot was straight at Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Van der Vaart’s right-footed shot was the Netherlands’ first chance after great play by Van Persie up front. The Arsenal frontman was playing well and showing signs of getting back to full match sharpness.
On 19 minutes Van Persie should have given the Dutch the early lead. In typical fashion, he controlled the ball superbly on his chest, but fired straight at Souleymanou. The Cameroon keeper comfortably dealt with a Van der Vaart free kick moments later as well.
15 minutes from half time, Jean Makoun was unable to keep his header down after he beat Stekelenburg to the ball from the cross from the right.
Dirk Kuyt shot across the face of the target a couple of minutes later before the goal came.
Van Persie started the second half brightly, shooting again right-footed on target after he got onto the end of Mark Van Bommel’s defence-splitting pass.
The Netherlands’ attacking players were in sync with one another, with Van Persie linking up well with Inter Milan’s Sneijder.
Over the hour mark, Makoun hit a tame effort at goal where he should have scored.
On 64 minutes, Van der Vaart handled the ball from Geremi’s free kick, resulting in Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o tucking the penalty away. The goal came at the end of a good spell of pressure from Cameroon.
Van der Vaart almost made up for conceding the penalty, as he whipped in a delightful ball into the box with Nigel De Jong stretching to try and divert the ball into the net.
Robben made his first appearance at the World Cup after recovering from a hamstring problem, adding to the flair and flamboyance the Dutch possess.
The Netherlands were the better side tonight, and if they can get Van Persie and Robben up to full fitness, then with their attacking players all playing they can go deep into this tournament.
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