Simon Poulsen own goal

A Simon Poulsen own goal and Dirk Kuyt's late winner earned the Netherlands a deserved 2-0 win over Denmark at Johannesburg's Soccer City as the Dutch took an early lead in Group E and stretched their long unbeaten run.

Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk had sprung a pre-match surprise with the inclusion of Arjen Robben as a substitute and the early stages could certainly have done with the Bayern Munich winger's pace and trickery. With Soccer City bathed in afternoon sunshine, the players took some time to establish the expected tempo, and the best efforts of a tight opening 20 minutes came through two hugely ambitious and off-target free-kicks from Wesley Sneijder and Thomas Enevoldsen.

Neither side were doing themselves justice at this stage but, of the two, it was the Netherlands who were displaying the greater attacking intent, with Rafael van der Vaart proving a lively deputy for the sidelined Robben. Twice in as many minutes midway through the half, the Real Madrid midfielder turned neatly on the edge of the box to fashion scoring opportunities, but on each occasion was unable to find the target.

Thomas Sorensen, fit again after suffering a dislocated elbow, endured a heart-stopping moment shortly after when he fumbled a tame-looking Dirk Kuyt shot only to recover the ball at the second attempt. The Dutch would have been worthy of a goal at this stage, but their failure to convert territorial dominance into goals threatened to cost them dearly as half-time approached.

The warning signs had been there when, with 28 minutes played, Nicklas Bendtner found space at the back post to head wastefully wide from a measured Dennis Rommedahl cross. Rommedahl himself tried his luck soon after, firing straight at Maarten Stekelenburg at the end of a lightning Danish break, while Thomas Kahlenberg provided the best effort of the half with a flashing left-foot shot that forced a terrific save from the Dutch No1.

However, it is not for nothing that Van Marwijk's side came into this match on a record 19-match unbeaten sequence, and they took a deserved lead within a minute of the second half commencing. Robin van Persie was the goal's architect, beating Sorensen to a through ball before curling over an inviting cross that Simon Poulsen, in his attempts to clear, headed across goal, against the back of Daniel Agger and into the net.

The Danes nearly self-destructed again four minutes later when a misplaced pass allowed Van Persie a clear sight of goal, but the Arsenal forward hesitated and Sorensen smothered bravely. Van der Vaart then came close an early contender for goal of the tournament with an audacious flick matched only in quality by Sorensen's agile save, while Sneijder rattled the crossbar with a deflected 25-yard shot.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 2010
• FIFA
• World
• Cup

[SwedenArise]

@BlueSwede92 So what ? Jag tycker fortfarande det var Negerns fel.

[BlueSwede92]

@SwedenArise Vad jag menar är att det var onödigt av dig att påpeka att det var Poulsens (den svarte spelarens) fel när det ändå är hans namn som står i videons titel. Och oavsett vad videon heter så var det Agger som officiellt ackrediterades för målet.

[SwedenArise]

@BlueSwede92 If it wasnt for the black guy it wouldnt have been a goal.. And read the title.. " Simon poulsen own goal "

[BlueSwede92]

@SwedenArise Simon Poulsen är den svarte spelaren. Han som rörde bollen sist, och ackrediterades för självmålet, är Daniel Agger.

[footballVSvids]

@SwedenArise I can see that you dont care from your reaction :)

QQ

[SwedenArise]

@footballVSvids The N word ? Ohh i think the world is going to and end because of that....Call me an racist i dont care :)

[footballVSvids]

@SwedenArise you said the N word , thats why your racist you cunt

[SwedenArise]

@footballVSvids Oh so im racist ? What would you have said if i said.. " It was the fucking pale ones fault ".. ( If it was an white guy who made the mistake ).. Im 100% sure you wouldnt call me racist ^^

[footballVSvids]

@SwedenArise racist online , but in real life your a pussyhole

dont say n*gger

[ChristinaBabz92]

@SwedenArise God shut it :)