Dutch streak takes out upstart Slovaks

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This article was published 29/06/2010 (5942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DURBAN, South Africa — Impressive as Arjen Robben and his Dutch teammates were in advancing to the World Cup quarter-finals, they still seek much more from their game.

The Netherlands reached the final eight Monday when standouts Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored in each half of a 2-1 victory over Slovakia.

"We played a difficult match. Main thing is, we are through," Robben said. "Probably the perfect game has still to come."

The Dutch might need to approach perfection in their next match against five-time champion Brazil. For now, they can enjoy the rekindling of the crafty Dutch offence — and they can credit Robben, who made his first start of the tournament after recovering from a hamstring injury.

"We must play better against Brazil … that’s for sure," Robben said.

The Oranje, who have never won soccer’s biggest prize, went ahead in the 18th minute when Robben cut inside from the right wing and found the net with a low, precise shot from 20 yards.

"It’s fantastic," coach Bert van Marwijk said. "After such an injury that he has the touch to score a goal like that."

The Moses Mabhida Stadium was filled mostly with orange-clad Netherlands fans and they blasted their vuvuzelas on Robben’s first touch.

After his goal, the sound became deafening.

Sneijder doubled the lead into an empty net in the 84th minute after a gamble by Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha backfired.

"We had a good first half hour. And we started well in the second half," Van Marwijk said. "We should have scored 2-0, 3-0, maybe 4-0 there."

Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg preserved the win with two key saves in the 67th, and the Dutch extended their team-record unbeaten streak to 23 games.

"At a crucial stage Maarten Stekelenburg saved us," Van Marwijk said.

Robert Vittek pulled one back for Slovakia from the penalty spot in injury time, tying him with Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain for the tournament scoring lead with four goals.

Slovakia upset Italy 3-2 in its previous match, a result that eliminated the defending champions, and had to be satisfied with its tournament debut as an independent nation.

"We played with heart and courage and we are proud that we made it to the second round, but the better team advanced," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "The penalty made us feel a little better on the flight home."

The Netherlands won all three of its group games, with its last loss coming to Australia in September 2008, a run of 18 wins and five draws.

The Netherlands reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but lost both — to Germany and Argentina, respectively.

— The Associated Press

Netherlands 1 1 — 2

Slovakia 0 1 — 1

First Half

1. Netherlands, Arjen Robben 1, 18th minute

Second Half

2. Netherlands, Wesley Sneijder 2, 84th

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3. Slovakia, Robert Vittek 4, 90th (penalty kick, injury time)

Shots — Netherlands: 16; Slovakia: 12.

Shots On Goal — Netherlands: 9; Slovakia: 3.

Attendance — 61,962.