Leipzig, June 11
Arjen Robben powered the Netherlands to a vital 1-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro in their first World Cup Group C game here today.
With Argentina beating the Ivory Coast 2-1 yesterday, this was a must-win match for the Dutch in the tournament’s ‘group of death’, and an irrepressible Robben, aided by a strong midfield showing by Mark van Bommel and Phillip Cocu, ensured just that.
The Serb defence, which conceded only one goal in qualifying, met their match in the doughty Robben, who tormented Nenad Djordjevic down his left wing, opened the scoring and came close to bagging at least three more.
In the 18th minute, Dutch defender John Heitinga hit a long
ball forward which was picked up centre field by Robin van Persie who delivered a delightful little chip over last defender Goran Gavrancic and into the path of the onrushing Robben.
He made no mistake with his one-on-one with exposed goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric, sliding the ball left-footed into the back of the net.
Three minutes later, Jevric was more than a match for Robben, palming away a ferocious shot from the edge of the area, but in the 37th minute could only watch as the Chelsea hitman’s right-footed shot just missed the far post.
The Serbs’ best chance came in the 13th minute. Dejan Stankovic rounded two defenders and squared the ball, which was beaten away from the oncoming Savo Milosevic and Mateja Kezman by a diving Joris Mathijsen, to the relief of Dutch captain and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Late first-half Serb replacement Ognjen Koroman gave the Dutch-dominated crowd in the 44,000-seater stadium a fright with two cracking shots.
Robben should have done better with his shot after a smart one-two with Ruud van Nistlerooy seven minutes into the second-half, and a clever free-kick also almost fell his way for finishing.
— AFP
