Netherlands vs Japan – Match Review
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The Netherlands have confirmed its dominance of Group E of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Japan at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Wesley Sneijder’s winner in the 52nd minute allowed Holland to become the second team behind Argentina to book its passage to the Round of 16.
Holland dominated possession in the early stages and its extended pressure on the Japanese defence almost told in the ninth minute when Sneijder hit a booming free-kick just over the bar.
As the half wore on, Japan began to settle and the match turned into a tense battle in midfield as either side struggled to breach their opposition defences.
With the match stuttering after a series of fouls committed from each side, Japan began to find the ascendancy as midfielder, Daisuke Matsui, teed himself up from outside the box before sending a firm volley into the direction of Dutch goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg.
With Keisuke Honda then hitting a shot over the bar, Rafael van der Vaart came closer when he volleyed sumptuously from long-range, but his shot was well held by Japanese goalkeeper, Eiji Kawashima.
Nevertheless, the second half began as anticipated with the Dutch coming out of the blocks in typically brutal fashion.
First, Giovanni van Bronckhorst crossed for Robin van Persie, whose tame header was stopped by Kawashima.
But then two minutes later, the Netherlands secured the decisive advantage when a cross from the right-flank found van Persie who laid it off for Sneijder to thump a thunderous volley past the despairing Japanese ’keeper.
On second glance, it looked as though Kawashima was at fault over-anticipating his dive as Sneijder’s volley was parried through to goal.
Japan immediately responded with efforts by Yasuhito Endo, Yuki Abe and Yoshito Okubo but again Stekelenburg was equal to the task.
Indeed, the Netherlands could’ve doubled the advantage when Dutch substitute, Ibrahim Afellay, was twice put through on goal, but he lacked composure at the critical moment and failed to beat Kawashima on either occasion.
However, the best chance fell to Shinji Okazaki when a header by Endo put the former through on goal; but he couldn’t keep his shot down as the Japanese side succumb to defeat for the first time in South Africa 2010.
Holland’s last match against Cameroon will be purely academic as the Europeans have already qualified; yet, Japan will need to record a last-ditch victory against Denmark in five days time if it is to extend its tournament hopes into the knockout phase.
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