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Rediff.com  » Sports » PHOTOS: Impressive Dutch maintain unbeaten first round record
This article was first published 10 years ago

PHOTOS: Impressive Dutch maintain unbeaten first round record

June 24, 2014 00:00 IST

Image: Leroy Fer of the Netherlands scores his team's first goal on a header
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Second half goals by substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay gave the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Chile in Sao Paolo. 

The result maintained the impressive record the Dutch have in the early part of the tournament. It's been 13 matches since Oranje last lost in the group stages of the World Cup.

The Netherlands have now scored at least twice in their last 12 competitive fixtures.

On the other hand, the defeat deprived Chile of a record for their fifth successive win, the South Americans having lost just thrice in their last 26 matches. 

Both teams were already assured of progress and the game lacked intensity until Fer produced a prodigious leap to head home Daryl Janmaat's angled cross two minutes after coming on.

The Netherlands' win on Monday put them top of Group B and they likely to avoid a second-round meeting with Brazil.

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Captain Robben led from the front

Image: Francisco Silva of Chile controls the ball against Arjen Robben of the Netherlands
Photographs: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Arjen Robben was given the captain's armband in the absence of the suspended Robin van Persie.

The Bayern Munich player, though selfish at times, was impressive and played a part in the second goal. 

However, Robben's failure to score meant he will have to wait to overtake Johnny Rep's tally of seven goals, the best for a Dutch player at the World Cup.

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Sanchez was the most impressive player for Chile

Image: Alexis Sanchez of Chile and Daley Blind of the Netherlands compete for the ball
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Alexis Sanchez was the most impressive player for Chile. 

With Juventus talisman Arturo Vidal rested, Sanchez was expected to inspire his side.

The Barcelona star was at his usual best, making the Dutch defense work hard. However, despite all his efforts Chile failed to score. 

Daley Blind, so impressive in the opener against Spain, cut a sorry figure on the day. He was the lone Dutch player to receive a yellow card. 

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Depay scored the 99th goal of this World Cup

Image: Memphis Depay of the Netherlands shoots and scores his team's second goal past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo of Chile
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

With Chile desperate to equalize it was always going to be dangerous, especially considering the fact that the Dutch are a side that capitalize on counterattacks. 

And it happened exactly as expected when substitute Memphis Depay footed in Robben's cross in added time. 

The PSV Eindhoven player, who scored the winner against Australia, notched what was the 99th goal of this World Cup.