Kuyt brace helps Holland defeat Macedonia

Awoner

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Holland had an easy evening against Macedonia in the Group 9 match.

New Delhi: Holland had an easy evening against Macedonia and recorded a solid 4-0 win to make it 15 points from five matches in Group 9.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk missed the injured Robin van Persie and replaced him with Real Madrid playmaker Wesley Sneijder. The other 10 players were all part of the starting XI in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Scotland.

Macedonia were without their first choice goalie Petar Milosevski due to injury. Therefore, Srecko Katanec opted to field Vardar Skopje shot stopper Tome Pacovski.

FIRST HALF

The Netherlands started the match the better side of the two, as expected, and got the first big chance of the game after about 10 minutes.Dirk Kuyt set up Klaas Jan Huntelaar on the edge of the box. The Real Madrid striker cut inside before unleashing a powerful left footed shot, but his effort went inches over the bar.

Kuyt helped his side to the lead after 15 minutes of play. Arjen Robben combined with Sneijder on the wing before firing in a low cross towards the far post. Kuyt beat his marker to the ball and tapped home from close range.

Holland got yet another chance a couple of minutes after the opener. The Macedonian defenders were unable to clear a corner kick and centre back Joris Mathijsen fired in a low shot from a narrow angle. However, Pacovski pulled off a good save to prevent another goal.

Robben was a constant threat on the left wing and went by his opponent with ease after 20 minutes. The tricky attacker was all alone though up front and unleashed a low shot from the left side of the box. Nevertheless, Pacovski deflected the ball out for a corner kick.

The away side created some danger for the first time halfway the first half. Star player Goran Pandev set up left back Goran Popov on the left wing. The Heerenveen defender sent in a low cross, which was cleared by the Dutch defence before it could reach Pandev.

Once again Popov caused the hosts all kinds of trouble on the left wing after a nice pass from Ilco Naumoski. He cut the ball back for Pandev, but his shot from inside the box was too weak to trouble Maarten Stekelenburg.

Robben went on yet another mazy run on the left wing after 26 minutes. He cut inside after going by his opponent and tried to set up Huntelaar. The ball deflected off a defender though straight into the feet of the prolific striker, who chipped the ball in the back of the net.

A perfect through pass from Sneijder minutes before the break reached Kuyt on the left side of the pitch. The former Feyenoord star did everything right and cut inside before calmly placing the ball in the back of the net at the far post to double his tally.

SECOND HALF

The hosts immediately looked dangerous after the break and Sneijder caused the Macedonian defence all kinds of trouble. The pint sized playmaker cut inside from the left wing before firing in one of his trademark long range strikes. Pacovski wasn’t troubled too much by his effort though and saved with ease.

Lazio Roma forward Pandev should have received his marching orders after 48 minutes. The hosts’ star player elbowed Nigel de Jong in midfield, but was lucky that he referee failed to spot the incident and spared Pandev.

The Oranje didn’t look too satisfied with their three goal lead and continued dominating play. Sneijder was instrumental for the Dutch and set up substitute Ryan Babel with a nice cross. The quick attacker tried to surprise Pacovski with a placed shot in the far corner, but the Macedonia goalie punched the ball into safety.

Ryan Babel should have made it four for Holland halfway the second half. An amazing team move ended up with Sneijder, who found the Liverpool attacker with a perfect through pass. Babel forgot to aim for one of the corners though and his shot was saved by Pacovski.

The away side got a good chance to peg one back 15 minutes before the final whistle. Pandev swung in a good cross with his left foot and gifted Naumoski the chance to beat the Dutch goalie with a header. The attacker aimed too high though and the chance went begging.

Rafael van der Vaart came off the bench to replace his Real Madrid team-mate Sneijder and immediately made an impact. The playmaker reached Bayern Munich star Mark van Bommel with a short pass, but the latter failed to beat the Macedonian shot stopper with his low effort.

Skipper Gio van Bronckhorst and Mathijsen sandwiched Pandev on the edge of the box, leaving the referee no other choice but to award the free kick. Nevertheless, the experienced forward was unable to get his shot on target and test Stekelenburg.

Van der Vaart scored Holland’s fourth in the dying minutes of the match. Van Bronckhorst sent in a low cross from the left wing and Van der Vaart didn’t hesitate to unleash a low shot in the far corner to make it 4-0 in Amsterdam.