Netherlands down Chile to top Group B
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E-mail Xinhua, June 24, 2014
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The Netherlands finished top of Group B after substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay scored late against a competitive Chile. |
Two substitutes scored apiece to gift the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Chile in their last Group B match at the World Cup on Monday.
Leroy Fer's first touch of the game was a goal. His header in the box went straight into the back of the net in the 77the minute.
In the injury time, another substitute Memphis Depay sealed the win for the Dutch with a tuck-in on a brilliant pass made by captain Arjen Robben from the left.
Robben, the Man of the Match, said after the game that the compliments should be given to both. "It is a match with a lot of passion. We defended well like a team and it's a great job to get three wins."
Both having advanced to the World Cup knockout stage, the Netherlands and Chile went head-to-head for Group B winners and the Dutchmen smiled in the end.
In the last 16, the Netherlands will face the runners-up of Group A, which contains hosts Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon, while Chile have to take on the Group A winners.
Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal told the post-match press conference that if he chose 4-3-3 formation today, his team would lose.
In today's match, Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal fielded veteran forward Dirk Kuyt in the starting line-up.
However, instead of playing in the front, the 34-year-old Kuyt often stood in the defense line, and the Dutch formation turned out to be 5-3-2.
Van Gaal said,"I don't want my key players just to chase behind Chilean strikers. The system I picked today helped us win."
Only eight minutes into the game, Chile's Barcelona striker Alexis Sanchez nearly surprised the Dutch backline with a quick header from a deep pass out of midfield, but Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen was quick to cut out the danger.
Conceding the ball possession which witnessed only 33 percent in the first half, the Dutchmen focused on sharp counterattacks.
Robben made a spectacular run through the heart of the Chilean defense in the 40th minute when he started inside his own half and beat several defenders en route to goal but his shot was just wide of the far post.
Midfielder Weslev Sneijder led the next Dutch counter-attack on 53 minutes and linked up well with forward Jeremain Lens, who got the ball quickly back to the Sneijder, but the latter lost control in the corner.
In an attack-minded change, Chile coach Sampaoli brought on the forward Jorge Valdivia for the midfielder Francisco Silva in the 72nd minute.
Four minutes later, Fer came off the bench to replace Sneijder and became the key man today.
Sampaoli said after the match that this was a match of intensity. "I have a group of players who never give up," he said
"The match was interrupted many times, but it is not proper for me to say anything about the referee," he noted.
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