Serbia Montenegro 0 - 1 Holland

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Sunday Jun 11 2006 02:00

Holland won their opening World Cup Group C game 1-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro in Leipzig thanks to a first-half Arjen Robben strike.

The Dutch were in the driving seat after 18 minutes when Robin van Persie sprung the offside trap and set Robben away just inside the Serb half. The Chelsea man left his marker for dead and slotted calmly past Dragoslav Jevric to put Holland 1-0 up.

The Serb defence just couldn't contain Robben and he hit a wicked shot on 21 minutes that Jevric did well to parry for a corner. But, and this became a recurring theme during the game, the corner was wasted and the ball went out for a goal-kick.

Holland had all the possession in the first half but the Serb defence was stoic and the Dutch were finding it hard to carve out chances.Wesley Sneijder and Robben worked tirelessly to pick out chances for Ruud van Nistelrooy and van Persie, but neither of the front two were having any joy.

Despite creating very few chances, Holland controlled the first half and were looking good for their 1-0 lead.

But, as the game neared half-time, Serbia replaced Nenad Djordjevic with Ognjen Koroman and the substitute had an immediate impact as he hit a snap shot over Edwin van der Sar's crossbar.

The ineffective Savo Milosevic was replaced by Nikola Zigic at half-time as Serbia looked to try break the Dutch defence down with the long ball. The new tactic appeared to be working as Serbia started to take control of the match, but they couldn't create any noteworthy chances and Holland soaked up their attacks with relative ease.

As the half progressed Serbia began to wilt, both physically and mentally, and Holland regained their grip on the game, calmly passing the ball along the back four as the Serb attackers grew more desperate in their search for an equaliser.

Koroman hesitated as Zigic flicked a ball on in the area and a good chance went begging and then, in the final minutes, Zigic himself was guilty of not adding the killer touch as the ball flashed across the Dutch six-yard box.

Holland's best chance of the half came when van Persie whipped in a free-kick from the edge of the area that Dirk Kuyt somehow failed to turn into the net.

Serbia & Montenegro will probably feel that they should have got something from this game but, in reality, Holland were always in control.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL-TIME: SERBIA & MONTENEGRO 0-1 HOLLAND
  • 90
    Serbia have done well in the second half but they don't look like they're going to get anything from this game. Zigic freezes in the box and a chance, surely Serbia's last, goes begging.
  • 90
    The resulting free kick is easily cleared by the Serb defence.
  • 90
    Gavrancicis then booked for the foul.
  • 90
    Robben looks tireless as he breaks 50 yards down the pitch and is fouled by Goran Gavrancic.
  • 89
    Holland regain possession as van der Sar collects and break quickly. Robben sends another shot narrowly wide.
  • 89
    The corner is cleared by Kuyt but Serbia regain possession.
  • 88
    van Bronckhorst loses the ball to Zigic and Serbia win a corner.
  • 87
    As the game nears an end, Holland are looking good for the win as both teams have reverted to their first half form.
  • 86
    Joris Mathijsen is replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz.
  • 84
    Heitinga is then booked for time wasting from the resulting free kick.
  • 84
    Stankovic then gives away free kick in teh Dutch half after he fouls John Heitinga.
  • 83
    van der Sar wins a free kick after he is fouled by Zigic.
  • 82
    van Persie sends a wicked curled ball into the six yard box that Kuyt somehow fails to connect with.
  • 82
    van Persie wins a free kick in a good position as he is chopped by Dragutinovic.
  • 81
    Holland are looking comfortable in possession again as Serbia look to be running out of steam and ideas.
  • 80
    Koroman is flagged offside and Holland have a free kick deep in their own half.
  • 79
    Duljaj gives away a free kick insde the Serb half but it is wasted by Sneijder who sends it out of play for a goal kick.
  • 79
    Holland regain possession but Serbia are forcing them back towards their own half.
  • 78
    Holland break quickly but Robben fires his shot wide.
  • 77
    Zigic flicks on the long ball and it eventually falls to Koroman who hesitates with his shot and van der Sar collects.
  • 76
    Serbia win a free kick inside the Holland half.
  • 75
    Holland regain possession but Kuyt cannot thread a ball through for van Persie.
  • 74
    Holland break and Robben wins another corner, and wastes it again!
  • 73
    Serbia are knocking the ball about dangeroulsy on the edge of the Dutch penalty area but the attack breaks down.
  • 72
    Mathijsen goes off the pitch for treatment but is not carried off on a stretcher, much to the annoyance of the four guys in bright blue bibs who have to take the stretcher off empty! Would have thought that would have been easier for them!
  • 71
    Koroman hits a shot from the edge of the box that van der Sar needs two attempts to collect. The Dutch 'keeper then goes down with cramp.
  • 70
    A promising Serbia attack beraks down as a simple pass is over hit and goes out for a goal kick.
  • 69
    van Nistelrooy is, predictably, replaced by Dirk Kuyt.
  • 68
    van Nistelrooy is having a nightmare and wastes an easy ball to Robben. Throw in to Serbia.
  • 67
    Kezman is replaced by Danijel Ljuboja.
  • 66
    Free kick to Serbia as Nadj is caught by Sneijder. Serbia are getting a real grip on the game now.
  • 65
    Serbia win a free kick on the corner of the Holland box but Stankovic sends his shot well over the bar.
  • 64
    Koroman is booked for demanding a card be issued to Holland.
  • 64
    Kezman hits a ball into the box that hits Ooijer on the arm, the penalty appeal is waved away by the ref.
  • 63
    Serbia play another long ball to Zigic (think Peter Crouch but, hopefully, without the bad dancing) but van der Sar collects easily.
  • 62
    The corner is played to Sneijder but his shot is deflected and van Nistelrooy fails to flick the ball past the 'keeper.
  • 61
    Holland attack, again through Sneijder and Robben, and win a corner. Only their third of the game.
  • 60
    Mark van Bommel is replaced by Denny Landzaat.
  • 59
    Kezman is penalised for executing an overhead kick, dangerous play according to the referee!
  • 58
    Serbia win a corner as van Bronckhorst puts a wayward pass out of play.
  • 57
    The free kick from half way line is wasted and drifts harmlesly into the hands of van der Sar.
  • 56
    Giovanni van Bronckhorst is booked for a foul on Koroman.
  • 55
    Holland regain possession but the cross is easily collected by Jevric.
  • 54
    Ivica Dragutinovic gives away a free kick about ten yards outside the Serb penalty box. But, in loads of space, Robben fluffs his volley and Serbia clear.
  • 53
    Good interplay between Sneijder and Robben is broken down by the Serb defence as Holland look to be getting more of a grip on the second half.
  • 52
    Holland again attack through Robben but he opts to shoot when Cocu was better placed for the shot and Serbia clear easily.
  • 51
    Holland are not having an easy ride in the second half as Serbia are playing with more purpose and closing them down quickly.
  • 50
    Robben beats the Serb full back but his cross is calmly chested back to Jevric.
  • 49
    Holland win a free kick in the centre cirlce and Robben is released down the right but loses possession.
  • 48
    Serbia win a free kick as Robben charges Duljaj off the ball. It is over hit and goes out for a goal kick.
  • 47
    Koroman takes the corner but it is cleared by Sneijder.
  • 47
    Serbia force an early attack and win a throw deep in the Dutch half. The ball eventually goes out for corner.
  • 46
    Milosevic is replaced by Nikola Zigic.
  • 46
    Serbia kick off the second half.
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: SERBIA & MONTENEGRO 0-1 HOLLAND.
  • 45
    Koroman has really given the Serb team a lift. He hits a shot first time but it flys high over the bar.
  • 45
    Two minutes added on for stoppages.
  • 45
    Serbia are taking the game to Holland as the half draws to a close but another cross is collected easily by van der Sar.
  • 45
    Serbia play a good ball into the box but Milosevic cannot profit as Ooijer stands firm and clears.
  • 44
    Sneijder gives away a free kick on the edge of the Serb box after a foul on Nadj.
  • 43
    Nenad Djordjevic is replaced by Ognjen Koroman.
  • 42
    Albert Nadj is fouled by van Bommel and Serbia win a free kick just inside their own half.
  • 41
    Robben bloodies his nose trying to keep the ball in play. Should have used his head really!
  • 39
    Holland kick the ball out as Kezman goes to ground...and stays there a bit too long really! The throw ends up at the feet of van der Sar.
  • 39
    But his corner is poor and doesn't clear the man on the near post. Serbia clear easily.
  • 38
    Robben, again, attacks down the left and wins a corner.
  • 37
    Robben, by far the best player on the pitch so far, curls a shot just wide.
  • 36
    Robben crosses but Jevric, again, collects easily.
  • 35
    Holland really are playing a patient game and Serbia are giving them all the time they need. But they can't really force another opening.
  • 34
    Stankovic is booked. Holland waste the free kick near the half way line.
  • 34
    Mathijsen gives away another corner which Predrag Djordjevic takes. Mark van Bommel clears easily.
  • 33
    Holland play the ball patiently accross the back once more and Serbia don't look like they can be bothered to close them down.
  • 32
    Serbia move the ball downfield quickly but Milosevic's snap volley is easily gathered by van der Saar.
  • 31
    After a patient build up, the ball is whipped into the Serb area but van Persie sends a diving header straight at the 'keeper.
  • 30
    Serbia win a corner as Mathijsen heads the ball behind his own goal. The ball eventually finds Kezman but he heads wide.
  • 29
    Free kick given against Cocu and Kezman breaks from the long ball downfield.
  • 28
    Free kick given against Andre Ooijer and Serbia break quickly but Milosovic hits his shot high and wide.
  • 27
    Serbia win a free kick ten yards outside the Dutch penalty box. Milosovic is caught offside as the free kick is hammered into the box.
  • 26
    Kezman and Savo Milosovic look like they've never played together before and don't look like troubling the Dutch defence.
  • 24
    Holland are in complete control but, for all their possession, can't seem to mount a serious attack.
  • 24
    The ball is hit upfield and goes out for a corner to Serbia. The corner drifts over everyone in the box and Holland regain possession.
  • 23
    Rudd van Nistelrooy is unhappy as a free kick is given against him the the Serb half of the field.
  • 22
    The ball is headed wide for a Serbian goal kick.
  • 21
    Robben hits a long shot and Jevric makes a good save. Corner to Holland.
  • 20
    Throw in to Holland in their own half as a rare Serbian attack breaks down.
  • 19
    Holland are soon back in possession from the Serbia kick off and the ball is getting played across the back four again!
  • 18
    SERBIA & MONTENEGRO 0-1 HOLLAND. Robin van Persie releases Robben and the Chelsea man beats the offside trap and slots past Jervic from inside the area.
  • 16
    Robben is flagged offside as Holland break away.
  • 15
    Serbia release a long throw into the box but it is cleared by the Dutch defence.
  • 13
    Giovanni van Bronckhorst releases Robben down the left but his cross is easily collected by Jevric.
  • 13
    Predrag Djordjevic beats Cocu and plays a ball across the Holland six yard box but neither of the Serbia front two can connect with the cross.
  • 12
    Phillip Cocu's delivery is poor and the ball ends up going out for a goal kick.
  • 11
    Robben wins a free kick on the left hand side of the Serbia penalty area after he is fouled by Igor Duljaj.
  • 10
    Stankovic overhits his free kick and van der Sar collects easily.
  • 9
    Serbia win a free kick deep in the Dutch half.
  • 8
    Serbia force an attack down the right through Mateja Kezman but he is quickly dispossessed.
  • 7
    The Dutch have all the possession , much of the play going through Sneijder. But Serbia are sitting deep and Holland cannot find a way through.
  • 6
    The ball ends up with Edwin van der Saar and Holland try to create an attack once more.
  • 5
    Dejan Stankovic wins a free kick deep in his own half against Arjen Robben.
  • 4
    The Dutch maintain possession but cannot really make any headway against the Serbia midfield.
  • 3
    Holland win a free kick in their own half for offside.
  • 2
    The kick drifts harmlessly into the hands of Serb 'keeper Dragoslav Jevric.
  • 1
    Holland get the game underway.
  • 0
    Ruud van Nistelrooy leads the Dutch attack, while the Serbs look to Savo Milosevic and Mateja Kezman for goals.
  • 0
    Serbia & Montenegro take on the Netherlands in Group C, having seen Argentina edge out Ivory Coast 2-1 last night.

Statistics

Serbia Montenegro
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 16
Offsides 2
Corners 6

Holland
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 21
Offsides 3
Corners 4

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