Dutch delight in shoot-out
cctv.com 07-08-2004 12:18
After a dramatic penalty shoot-out, the Netherlands advanced to a UEFA EURO 2004™ semi-final against Portugal following 120 minutes of goalless stalemate in Faro-Loul茅.
Robben decisive
A desperately tight, fiercely contested encounter had seen both teams foiled by the woodwork before misses from Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olof Mellberg proved decisive in the shoot-out, with Arjen Robben nervelessly converting the winning spot-kick.
Midfield reshuffle
Sweden made two midfield changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Denmark to qualify for the last eight, Anders Svensson replacing Kim Kallström and Anders Andersson giving way to Tobias Linderoth while Alexander Östlund came in for the suspended Erik Edman in defence. The Netherlands fielded the same team that booked a quarter-final place with a 3-0 success against Latvia.
Robben threat
On a gloriously warm evening in a vibrant atmosphere, both sides took time to settle and the early play was littered with free-kicks. The Dutch began to take the initiative, however, and Robben had the game's first chance after ten minutes, cutting inside before producing a fierce left-foot drive that was pushed aside by Andreas Isaksson.
Dutch pressure
The Sweden goalkeeper was soon in action again to clutch a Clarence Seedorf free-kick as his side were pushed on to the back foot, and Ruud van Nistelrooij then had a shot blocked with the Netherlands looking to take advantage of their greater enterprise in the early stages.
Finely poised
Sweden finally began to relieve the pressure, Henrik Larsson curling a long-range free-kick wide but the game, while interestingly poised, had yet to really catch fire as the half-hour approached, although Michael Reiziger flashed a drive past the post when the Netherlands came forward again.
De Boer cautioned
Frank de Boer received the game's first booking on the half-hour for a clumsy challenge on Fredrik Ljungberg, before Isaksson fisted a rasping Phillip Cocu drive away for a corner at the other end. De Boer was hurt in that tackle and limped off to be replaced by Wilfred Bouma after 36 minutes. The substitute, who came on despite a persistent achilles problem, was quickly into the fray, blocking Svensson's goalbound effort. The same player then tested Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar from 20 metres.
Van Nistelrooij involved
The Dutch forced the early second-half pace, the dangerous Van Nistelrooij troubling the Swedish defence in heading Robben's cross just over the bar and flicking another effort fractionally too high minutes later.
Crucial intervention
Until now, Larsson and strike partner Ibrahimovic had been largely subdued, but the much-heralded Swedish duo came desperately close to breaking the deadlock after 56 minutes. Larsson headed across goal, Jaap Stam failed to clear and Ibrahimovic poked the ball goalwards, but Cocu was on hand to clear off the line.
Near miss
There were signs that the game was coming to the boil, Van der Sar saving a fierce cross-shot from Mattias Jonson as Sweden enjoyed a promising spell near the hour. Back came the Netherlands, Van Nistelrooij seeing an effort blocked by Isaksson - the ball rebounding off the striker but rolling centimetres wide. Svensson then tested Van der Sar from outside the area as the tempo increased.
Stam shot
The injured Jonson was replaced by Christian Wilhelmsson after 64 minutes and Stam ventured forward for the next Dutch effort, hammering a long-range effort past the post. The minutes ticked down to extra time, although Ljungberg shot agonisingly wide and the Netherlands were unable to capitalise on a spell of late pressure, Van Nistelrooij heading too high.
Isaksson involved
The Dutch almost struck two minutes into extra time. Isaksson fumbled Robben's long-range strike on to the post, and substitute Roy Makaay failed to take advantage of the rebound from close range. The Swedish goalkeeper then atoned with two wonderful saves from Seedorf.
Gripping finale
Larsson shaved the crossbar at the other end and soon afterwards, Ljungberg hit the post for Sweden in an enthralling climax but it took the drama of a penalty shoot-out to separate the two sides.
Source: Official Website of Euro 2004
Editor:Wang Ping Source:
