Dutch choose wins over style

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This article was published 20/06/2010 (5950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DURBAN, South Africa — Wesley Sneijder scored the lone goal as the Netherlands beat Japan 1-0 for its second straight World Cup win Saturday.

Sneijder’s 53rd-minute strike finally broke down Japan’s stubborn resistance, which had stifled Dutch creativity for much of the match. Robin van Persie laid the ball back and Sneijder sent a powerful right-foot shot that Japan 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 we maybe could have got two or three goals, but we won it and that’s great.”

It was the Inter Milan playmaker’s 15th goal in 63 internationals.

“Our players did everything they could, but we could not beat the Netherlands,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. “We feel sorry for the fans.”

The Netherlands, however, again failed to live up to its billing as one of the most fluent attacking teams of the tournament. The team struggled to a 2-0 victory over Denmark in its first Group E match, while Japan had a 1-0 victory over Cameroon.

“Why do we focus on good football 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.”

Before Sneijder’s goal, Van Persie missed chances for the Dutch before 62,010 fans.

Japan responded to the goal by pushing forward and Yoshito Okubo had two shots in quick succession, the first saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and the second went over the bar.

Substitute Ibrahim Afellay came close to doubling the Dutch lead in the 84th and again in the 88th when he 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 when Shinji Okazaki latched onto a deep cross at the far post and 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 win set a record of 10 straight victories for the Netherlands in World Cup qualifiers and final tournament matches, including eight before the two in South Africa.

It also extended the Dutch record of never losing to an Asian team. It has now won eight matches and drawn one against Asian opponents.

The win put the Netherlands in first place in Group E with six points. Cameroon and Denmark are also in the group.

— The Associated Press