New Delhi: The Netherlands grabbed a fully deserved 3-1 win against a defensive minded Sweden in a disappointing match.
Team news
Holland boss Bert van Marwijk opted to start with Henk Timmer as goalie following Maarten Stekelenburg's injury. Furthermore, Demy de Zeeuw, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt were part of the starting XI as a result of the injury trouble of Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Nigel de Jong.
For Sweden, talented striker Marcus Berg started up front as Zlatan Irahimovic's replacement, together with Henrik Larsson. Additionally, Ajax midfielder Rasmus Lindgren made his debut for Sweden in midfield.
First half
Netherlands started the match with attacking intentions, while the Swedes were clearly hoping to hit the home side on the counter attack.
The first good chance of the match was for Oranje after twelve minutes. Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel sent in the cross from the left and Robin van Persie tried a volley from eighteen yards. Nevertheless, Andreas Isaksson pulled off a superb save to prevent Holland from opening the score.
The hosts were having trouble to break down Sweden's defensive stands and were relying on Ryan Babel's speed on the left wing to create some dangerous situations.
A beautiful attack around the hour mark could have resulted in the opening goal for the Dutch. Demy de Zeeuw chipped in the ball towards Dirk Kuyt, who used his chest to reach Mark van Bommel. The Bayern Munich midfielder fired home from a difficult angle, but saw his goal being disallowed for offside.
Sweden got their first chance of the match only minutes after Van Bommel's disallowed goal. A free kick bounced back to Christian Wilhelmsson, who ran down the left flank and went round Van Persie before hitting the side netting from a narrow angle.
Atletico Madrid defender John Heitinga ran down the right wing in the 31st minute before sending in a cross for Sneijder. Nevertheless, the pint sized playmaker mishit his volley and Sweden goalie Isaksson wasn't troubled too much.
Oranje got their deserved lead in the 32nd minute. Ryan Babel deserved a corner kick, which was swung in by Wesley Sneijder. Arsenal forward Robin van Persie was left totally unmarked within five yards of Sweden's goal and had no trouble heading the ball past Isaksson from close range.
Second half
Holland started the second half brilliantly and doubled their lead three minutes after the break. Substitute Rafael van der Vaart was given too much space in the area and the former HSV star went by Daniel Majstorovic without a problem before laying the ball off to Van Persie.
The tricky forward calmly placed the ball in the back of the net to score his second goal of the evening.
However, the guests weren't impressed and immediately pegged one back. Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom played a short combination with fellow substitute Sebastian Larsson and fired in a powerful long range strike that beat Holland goalie Michel Vorm, who really should have tipped the ball over the bar.
Sweden got another good chance around the hour mark, when they ran down the right wing. However, the Swedish forwards hesitated too long and the chance went wandering without testing Vorm again.
Ryan Babel should have added his name to the score sheet only minutes later when he escaped the offside trap after a beautiful pass from Wesley Sneijder. Nevertheless, Babel failed to fire in a good shot and the ball deflected off the back of a Swedish defender. Dirk Kuyt tried to pounce on the rebound, but didn't find the net either.
The home side created another chance to extend their lead in the 83rd minute. Van Persie got fouled at the right end of the pitch and was awarded with a free kick. Real Madrid midfielder Van der Vaart curled in the cross, which was met by David Mendes Da Silva. However, his header lacked the power to trouble Isaksson.
Sweden came close to leveling both sides in the dying minutes of the match when HSV defender Joris Mathijsen slipped in his own half. Sebastian Larsson picked up the loose ball before aiming a cross towards Markus Rosenberg. However, Oranje goalie Michel Vorm rushed out to collect the cross before Rosenberg could cause any damage.
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt scored the 3-1 in injury time to help his side to a deserved victory. Substitute Tim de Cler sent in the cross from the left wing and Kuyt beat his marker to the ball to head home from a difficult angle.
Line-ups:
Netherlands: Timmer (Vorm/46); Heitinga (Mendes Da Silva/78), Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (De Cler/46); De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart/46), Van Bommel; Van Persie, Sneijder (Engelaar/74), Babel (Afellay/64); Kuyt
Sweden: Isaksson; Nilsson, Majstorovic, Hansson (Granqvist/80), Safari (Stoor/46); Wilhelmsson (S. Larsson/46), D. Andersson (Kallstrom/46), Lindgren, Holmen (V. Elm/77); H. Larsson (Rosenberg/46), Berg
Yellow Cards: none (Netherlands); D. Andersson (Sweden)
Red Cards: none
Goals
1-0, Van Persie 32'
2-0, Van Persie 48'
2-1, Kallstrom 49'
3-1, Kuyt 90+2'
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