Rafael van der Vaart’s early strike gave Bert van Marwijk’s side a ray of hope, but the Oranje were consigned to a defeat with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the target twice to ensure A Seleccao’s progression to the quarter-finals.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753 in their final Euro 2012 Group B encounter at Metalist Kharkiv Stadium on Sunday, June 17, to deservingly progress to the next phase of the competition.
The Oranje commenced proceedings in Kharkiv brightly being fully aware of the fact that they need to win the game by at least a two-goal margin.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan star fired his effort well over the side-netting. However, the missed opportunity did not cost the Oranje, as they
took the lead in the 11th minute through Rafael van der Vaart.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arjen-Robben-c6521 made a decent run down the right flank before cutting in to feed Van der Vaart at the edge of the penalty area, and the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder produced a brilliant curling left-footed effort that found the left
corner of the net.
After conceding an early goal, A Seleccao revived and started to play better. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 made a brilliant run at the left flank before cutting in and smashing a low shot that rattled off the post.
Portugal had another opportunity to restore parity following an error from Gregory van der Wiel, but Helder Postiga failed to beat the Oranje goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Maarten-Stekelenburg-c22998.
The Navigators continued to assert their authority, and mounted immense pressure on the Flying Dutchmen’s back-line that eventually paid them off in the 28th minute. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ronaldo-c31734,
and the Real Madrid attacker made no mistake in hitting the back of the net to level the score-line 1-1.
Moments later, Ronaldo tried his luck from range with a dipping effort, which was uneasily parried away by Stekelenburg. The 27-year-old then headed a Joao Moutinho corner inches wide of the target, as the Oranje continued to live
dangerously.
After the half-time break, Portugal resumed proceedings impressively with Postiga’s strike was ruled offside.
The Oranje head coach, Bert van Marwijk, substituted http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ibrahim-Afellay-c16547 at the hour mark, but the change did little for the 2010 World Cup runners-up.
Ronaldo continued to dominate the left flank, and managed to beat his marker to set-up http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 inside the box. However, the Manchester United winger bizarrely fired straight at Stekelenburg from point blank range.
In the 74th minute, the Navigators managed to take the lead for the first time in the match in another counter attack. Nani played a brilliant low pass from the right flank across the face of the goal for Ronaldo, and
the highly-rated attacker precisely powered his effort into the back of the net to make the score-line 2-1.
Van der Vaart tried his luck from range moments later, only to see his effort rattle the post while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 missed a glorious opportunity to score the equaliser.
When the referee blew the final whistle to end proceedings at Metalist Kharkiv Stadium, the score-line read 2-1 in favour of Portugal.
Germany’s win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Denmark-c2884 in their respective Group B fixture ensured that A Seleccao progress through to the quarter-finals of the European Championship, while Netherlands head home after suffering three consecutive defeats in
all of their group matches.
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