Holland completed their passage into round two with an impressive battling performance from the Ivory Coast not enough to prevent the ‘Big Guns’ from reaching the knock out stages.
With the Dutch 2-0 up inside the half hour mark a brave fight back from the Ivorian’s came a little too late as they bowed out of their first World Cup with much to be pleased about.
Both teams started with the same sides which had played during their previous Group C encounters. Holland began with the Premiership trio of Robben, Ruud and Robin up front and the Ivory Coast started with Drogba upfront, expected to be their talisman, but impressive back up came in the form of the two Kone’s and Zokora who was the star of the show in their defeat against Argentina.
The first chance of the game fell to Ivory Coast when Zokora slipped in Aruna Kone for a chance, some good Dutch defending drove him wide and it was enough to force him to slip the shot wide.
Three minutes later the Dutch despite much early African pressure took the lead through a Robin Van Persie free kick. Brought down close to the edge of the area the Arsenal man dusted himself off before slamming a free kick round the wall and into the top corner. An effort to be proud of gave Holland the lead and put them in with a significant chance of three points.
Seemingly reeling from their deficit the Ivory Coast began to push forward but were caught short at the back as Holland took a 2-0 lead through Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Played through by some impressive footwork from Van Persie the exiled Manchester United striker was able to curl the ball past the goalkeeper in a 1 on 1 situation with the greatest of ease.
As it seemed Holland were running away with the game they were given a shock first by Zokora who inventive as ever managed to engineer some space for a shot which powerfully struck shook the Dutch crossbar with Van Der Saar well beaten. The Ivorian’s began to pile on more pressure and were rewarded by a wonder goal five minutes later when Bakari Kone was able to create some space for himself in midfield, before driving forward and placing a shot from the edge of the area into the back of the Dutch net.
Believing they had a chance of making their way back into the match they pushed forward even more leaving Holland to ponder how to relieve the pressure, feeding Arjen Robben on more than one occasion the Dutch were able to force the game the other way and prevent the Ivory Coast from leveling the game.
The second half however was a tale of woe for the World Cup first timers who simply could not find their way past the Dutch defense. Kone shot wildly over the bar with team mates around him. Drogba beat the keeper but could only find a Dutch defender on the line with a deep corner played in and Dindane, a substitute shot tamely into the arms of the Holland goalkeeper when presented with an opportunity outside of the area.
Despite an uncomfortable second half Holland now move on to face Argentina in a battle for top spot.
With the Dutch 2-0 up inside the half hour mark a brave fight back from the Ivorian’s came a little too late as they bowed out of their first World Cup with much to be pleased about.
Both teams started with the same sides which had played during their previous Group C encounters. Holland began with the Premiership trio of Robben, Ruud and Robin up front and the Ivory Coast started with Drogba upfront, expected to be their talisman, but impressive back up came in the form of the two Kone’s and Zokora who was the star of the show in their defeat against Argentina.
The first chance of the game fell to Ivory Coast when Zokora slipped in Aruna Kone for a chance, some good Dutch defending drove him wide and it was enough to force him to slip the shot wide.
Three minutes later the Dutch despite much early African pressure took the lead through a Robin Van Persie free kick. Brought down close to the edge of the area the Arsenal man dusted himself off before slamming a free kick round the wall and into the top corner. An effort to be proud of gave Holland the lead and put them in with a significant chance of three points.
Seemingly reeling from their deficit the Ivory Coast began to push forward but were caught short at the back as Holland took a 2-0 lead through Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Played through by some impressive footwork from Van Persie the exiled Manchester United striker was able to curl the ball past the goalkeeper in a 1 on 1 situation with the greatest of ease.
As it seemed Holland were running away with the game they were given a shock first by Zokora who inventive as ever managed to engineer some space for a shot which powerfully struck shook the Dutch crossbar with Van Der Saar well beaten. The Ivorian’s began to pile on more pressure and were rewarded by a wonder goal five minutes later when Bakari Kone was able to create some space for himself in midfield, before driving forward and placing a shot from the edge of the area into the back of the Dutch net.
Believing they had a chance of making their way back into the match they pushed forward even more leaving Holland to ponder how to relieve the pressure, feeding Arjen Robben on more than one occasion the Dutch were able to force the game the other way and prevent the Ivory Coast from leveling the game.
The second half however was a tale of woe for the World Cup first timers who simply could not find their way past the Dutch defense. Kone shot wildly over the bar with team mates around him. Drogba beat the keeper but could only find a Dutch defender on the line with a deep corner played in and Dindane, a substitute shot tamely into the arms of the Holland goalkeeper when presented with an opportunity outside of the area.
Despite an uncomfortable second half Holland now move on to face Argentina in a battle for top spot.