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Van Nistelrooy takes Dutch to quarters
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-24 08:48
Ruud van Nistelrooy struck twice to lead the Netherlands to an emphatic 3-0 win over Latvia that sent them into the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.
Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder jumps over Giovanni van Bronckhorst (R) as they celebrate victory over Latvia along with Arjen Robben (L) after their Euro 2004 Group D soccer match at the Braga Municipal stadium, June 23, 2004. Netherlands won 3-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals. [Reuters] |
The big striker gave the Dutch complete control with two early goals and substitute Roy Makaay added a third six minutes from time to leave their side as Group D runners-up behind the Czech Republic.
A Netherlands team fan celebrates their team's win against Latvia in their Euro 2004 Group D soccer match in Braga, June 23, 2004. [Reuters] |
The Netherlands will play Sweden in the quarter-finals in Faro on Saturday, the players linking arms and celebrating wildly on the pitch with their army of orange-clad fans when their qualification was confirmed.
The Czechs finished the group with a maximum nine points after a 2-1 victory over Germany, who would have qualified with a win.
But their defeat opened the door for the Dutch and they grabbed the lifeline to ease the pressure on coach Dick Advocaat whose side took only one point from their first two games.
"I am relieved we are in the quarter-finals because it has been a tough period especially after the game against the Czechs when we suffered a lot of criticism which was focused on me," Advocaat said.
"Now we play Sweden. They are a team we know everything about and normally we should be able to beat them."
Man-of-the-match Van Nistelrooy broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when he sent goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko the wrong way from the penalty spot after Latvia captain Vitalijs Astafjevs had tripped Edgar Davids in the box.
Nod down
The striker made it 2-0 after 35 minutes when a Clarence Seedorf free kick eluded the keeper and was headed back from beyond the far post by Philip Cocu for the forward to nod down over the line from close range.
Van Nistelrooy joined England's Wayne Rooney at the top of the tournament's scoring chart with four goals.
He should have completed his hat-trick after 41 minutes when he blasted a fierce volley straight at Kolinko, Latvia's outstanding player, when it seemed a goal was certain.
The Dutch, needing a win to retain any hope of progressing to the last eight following a 1-1 draw against Germany and a 3-2 defeat by the Czechs, were forced to make two changes.
Michael Reiziger came in for the suspended Johnny Heitinga, sent off against the Czechs in defence, while Frank de Boer took the place of the injured Wilfred Bouma to extend his record appearance tally with his 111th cap.
Rarely troubled
But the Latvians rarely troubled the Dutch back line apart from sporadic, but largely ineffective raids during the early part of the second half.
Instead the Dutch spent most of the time in the Latvian half and only inspired goalkeeping from Kolinko and desperate tackling from Latvia's over-worked defenders kept the score down.
Young winger Arjen Robben was again an inspiration for the Netherlands, and Davids and Clarence Seedorf quickly established control of the midfield which they never relinquished.
Latvia, who lost 2-1 to the Czechs before holding Germany to a 0-0 draw, also came into the match looking for an unlikely place in the last eight but were never remotely close to claiming it.
Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs was satisfied with his side's debut at a major tournament.
"I want to congratulate the Netherlands, they proved they are one of the best teams in the tournament," he said. "It was very difficult for us. When you look at their reserves they are all big stars.
"Our team showed potential," he added. "We put in a great effort but the result today was not so good. We were too afraid of making mistakes and they had more experience."
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