Holland eased into the quarter-finals of the World Cup as goals from Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder secured victory over Slovakia in Durban.
Holland eased into the quarter-finals of the World Cup as goals from Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder secured victory over Slovakia in Durban.
The Dutch were boosted by the return from injury of star winger Robben, who started his first game of the tournament.
Slovakia head coach Vladimir Weiss opted to pair Robert Vittek with Erik Jendrisek in attack, but Zdeno Strba missed out due to suspension.
After a couple of long-range efforts, the Dutch forged the first opening when Dirk Kuyt lifted in a cross from the left and Robin van Persie's poor header took a deflection and went out for a corner.
Eighteen minutes in came the breakthrough when Robben gained possession on the right, cut inside and drifted past a couple of defenders, before beating Jan Mucha with a low 20-yard left-footed drive.
Slovakia had struggled to make any sort of opening before Robben struck and they continued to do so for the remainder of the half.
The Netherlands' only other half-chance came five minutes before the interval when van Persie beat one defender, but then scuffed a 30-yard right-foot shot straight at Mucha.
Early in the second half the Dutch were twice denied by Mucha, who first superbly tipped away another Robben effort brought about by a dart in from the right, before the keeper blocked a Joris Mathijsen effort with his face from point-blank range.
Just past the hour mark Sneijder tried to shoot with several team-mates powering forward on the break and that almost proved to be very costly.
Midway through the half Miroslav Stoch cut in from the left and his bullet shot from just inside the area was superbly tipped over by Maarten Stekelenburg.
Soon after Vittek beat the offside trap, but shot straight at Stekelenburg from 15 yards as another opportunity went begging.
The Dutch finally eased their nerves with six minutes to play when Mucha missed a long free-kick over the top and Kuyt nipped in and put the ball on a plate for Sneijder to sidefoot home from 12 yards out.
The final move of the game saw Slovakia gain reward for their efforts, as Stekelenburg was penalised for bringing down sub Martin Jakubko and Vittek converted from the spot for his fourth goal of the finals.
The Dutch were boosted by the return from injury of star winger Robben, who started his first game of the tournament.
Slovakia head coach Vladimir Weiss opted to pair Robert Vittek with Erik Jendrisek in attack, but Zdeno Strba missed out due to suspension.
After a couple of long-range efforts, the Dutch forged the first opening when Dirk Kuyt lifted in a cross from the left and Robin van Persie's poor header took a deflection and went out for a corner.
Eighteen minutes in came the breakthrough when Robben gained possession on the right, cut inside and drifted past a couple of defenders, before beating Jan Mucha with a low 20-yard left-footed drive.
Slovakia had struggled to make any sort of opening before Robben struck and they continued to do so for the remainder of the half.
Holland's only other half-chance came five minutes before the interval when van Persie beat one defender, but then scuffed a 30-yard right-foot shot straight at Mucha.
Early in the second half the Dutch were twice denied by Mucha, who first superbly tipped away another Robben effort brought about by a dart in from the right, before the keeper blocked a Joris Mathijsen effort with his face from point-blank range.
Just past the hour mark Sneijder tried to shoot with several team-mates powering forward on the break and that almost proved to be very costly.Midway through the half Miroslav Stoch cut in from the left and his bullet shot from just inside the area was superbly tipped over by Maarten Stekelenburg.
Soon after Vittek beat the offside trap, but shot straight at Stekelenburg from 15 yards as another opportunity went begging.
The Dutch finally eased their nerves with six minutes to play when Mucha missed a long free-kick over the top and Kuyt nipped in and put the ball on a plate for Sneijder to sidefoot home from 12 yards out.
The final move of the game saw Slovakia gain reward for their efforts, as Stekelenburg was penalised for bringing down sub Martin Jakubko and Vittek converted from the spot for his fourth goal of the finals.
