Two second-half goals saw Holland open their Group E campaign with an unconvincing victory over Denmark in Johannesburg.

An own-goal and a second from Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt settled a disappointing encounter in front of a raucous full house at Soccer City, who were anticipating a master-class from one of the pre-tournament favourites.

The Dutch started slowly and failed to seriously test Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen throughout a low-key first 45 minutes.

They dominated possession but the only chances they managed to carve out were two blocked shots from Rafael van der Vaart after neat build-up play from Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

Denmark hardly set the pulses racing themselves, but at least they threatened first through Nicklas Bendtner in the 28th minute.

The Arsenal star had been an injury doubt in the lead-up to the match and hardly covered himself in glory when he rose unmarked to head wide from eight yards after being picked out by a pinpoint Dennis Rommedahl cross.

Rommedahl lashed a low shot straight at Maarten Stekelenburg before Thomas Kahlenberg tested the keeper with a shot from a tight angle on the stroke of half-time which he did well to fingertip wide.

Anyy hopes Denmark had of forcing a breakthrough were ended just 50 minutes into the second-half. An own goal when Simon Poulson headed a hopeful van Persie cross into the back of teammate Daniel Agger and into the the net took the wind out of their sails.

Van Persie should have made it 2-0 minutes later when he was played through one-on-one with Sorensen but mis-controlled and allowed the keeper to snuff out the danger.

Mark van Bommel then drew an impressive save out of the Stoke City keeper with a crashing drive from a tight angle which he clawed into the side-netting. Sorensen could do little though when Wesley Sneijder's shot deflected up off Agger and looped over his head before landing on top of the crossbar.

He was beaten again five minutes from full-time when Kuyt stabbed the loose ball over the line after a combination of he and the post had denied Eljero Elia when the substitute was played clean through on goal by Sneijder.

Simon Poulson made slight amends for his early mistake when he hacked Ibrahim Afellay's close-range effort off the line at the death, but Denmark can have no complaints after never looking likely to take anything from the match after they had fallen behind.