DURBAN, South Africa — The Netherlands is showing it doesn’t have to be flashy to advance at the World Cup.
Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal Saturday and the Netherlands beat Japan 1-0, its second consecutive victory and the second time the Dutch couldn’t produce the kind of offensive show they were expected to bring to South Africa.
The Dutch will take it.
Their victory combined with Denmark’s 2-1 victory over Cameroon in Group E makes the Netherlands the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout phase of the tournament.
“Why do we focus on good soccer instead of winning?” Netherlands Coach Bert van Marwijk said. “Let me assure you that we really, really want to win and if we can do that in style, then great. But you have to be able to win ugly games.”
Sneijder’s 53rd-minute strike finally broke through a Japanese defense that had stifled Oranje creativity in front of 62,010 at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Striker Robin van Persie missed several chances for the Dutch before finally setting up Sneijder’s goal. He laid the ball back and the Inter Milan midfielder fired a powerful right-footed shot that goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima could only deflect into his net.
“We pressed in the second half and got a goal,” Sneijder said. “This is the kind of game [when] we maybe could havegot two or three goals, but we won it and that’s great.”
Japan responded by going on the attack and Yoshito Okubo had two shots in quick succession, the first saved by Maarten Stekelenburg and the second over the bar.
Substitute Ibrahim Afellay came close to doubling the Dutch lead in the 84th and again in the 88th minute when he twice bore down on the Japan goal, but he was foiled both times by good saves from Kawashima diving at his feet.
Japan nearly made the Netherlands pay for those misses in the final minutes when substitute Shinji Okazaki got to a deep cross at the far post but shot just over the bar.
“It shows you there are no easy games. Look at France and Germany,” Van Marwijk said, referring to the World Cup losses for the European powerhouses.
The Netherlands is a two-time World Cup finalist - losing in 1974 and 1978 - while Japan’s best finish was reaching the round of 16 when it co-hosted the tournament with South Korea in 2002.
The victory set a record of 10 consecutive victories for the Netherlands in World Cup qualifiers and finals matches - a run that includes eight qualification matches and its two victories in South Africa.
It also extended the Dutch record of never losing to an Asian team. It has won eight matches and tied one against Asian opponents.
DENMARK 2, CAMEROON 1
PRETORIA, South Africa - Dennis Rommedahl scored one goal and setup another as Denmark beat Cameroon, eliminating the Indomitable Lions.
Rommedahl charged down the right wing and spun around Jean Makoun before hitting a well-aimed shot past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou in the 61st minute.
Rommedahl had assisted on tying goal after Samuel Eto’o put Cameroon ahead in the 10th minute following amix-up in the Danish defense.
Nicklas Bendtner tied it in the 33rd after receiving a pass from Rommedahl following a long pass by Simon Kjaer.
Cameroon is the first team eliminated, although it still has a game to play against the Netherlands in Group E.
AUSTRALIA 1, GHANA 1
RUSTENBURG, South Africa - Australia held on for a draw despite Ghana’sman advantage for more than 66 minutes , further tightening Group D.
Australia forward Brett Holman scored in the 11th minute after goalkeeper Richard Kingson bobbled a free kick from Mark Bresciano right into his path. Holman put the rebound past the keeper.
Harry Kewell led the Australian attack against Ghana as one of four changes to the team beaten by Germany. But hewas given a red card in the 24th minute after he blocked a shot from Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah at the goal line with his upper arm.
Asamoah Gyan converted the penalty kick in the 25th minute for his second goal of the tournament, both from the penalty spot.
Ghana tops Group D with four points, followed by Serbia and Germany with three each, Australia with one.
Sports, Pages 35 on 06/20/2010