Netherlands 2
Fer 77; Depay 90;
Chile 0
A powerful and pacey Netherlands side beat Chile 2-0 yesterday in a match that burst into life late on, securing them top spot in Group B.
Substitute Leroy Fer scored with his first touch of the game, thumping home a close-range header from Daryl Janmaat’s cross in the 77th minute (picture).
Another replacement, Memphis Depay, made it two in stoppage- time after a marauding Arjen Robben broke down the left, turning what had been a scrappy match short of goalmouth action into a comfortable win for the Dutch.
The Netherlands ended the group stage on a perfect nine points with Chile behind them on six.
Chile, knowing only a win would secure top spot owing to an inferior goal difference, pressed hardest in the first half and bossed possession but they failed to hit the target once.
The second half was not much better for the South Americans, who were clearly missing the influential Arturo Vidal in midfield and failed to match the heights of their shock 2-0 win over Spain in the previous game.
Alexis Sanchez dropped deep and worked hard to pull the strings in the middle, but the men in orange were more than equal to the task and frustrated Chile.
The Netherlands won without in-form striker Robin van Persie after he was suspended for two yellow cards.
But Robben was excellent again, launching a series of searing runs that threatened the Chile defence before his perfect cross sealed the three points.
Chile’s best result at a World Cup came on home soil in 1962, when they finished third.
In 1998 and 2010 they reached the last 16, only to exit at the hands of Brazil on both occasions.
Netherlands: 1-Jasper Cillessen; 2-Ron Vlaar, 3-Stefan de Vrij, 5-Daley Blind, 7-Daryl Janmaat; 6-Nigel de Jong, 20-Georginio Wijnaldum, 11-Arjen Robben, 10-Wesley Sneijder (75 18-Leroy Fer); 17-Jeremain Lens (69 21-Memphis Depay), 15-Dirk Kuyt (89 14-Terence Kongolo).
Chile: 1-Claudio Bravo, 4-Mauricio Isla, 17-Gary Medel, 18-Gonzalo Jara, 2-Eugenio Mena; 20-Charles Aranguiz, 21-Marcelo Diaz, 5-Francisco Silva (70 10-Jorge Valdivia), 16-Felipe Gutierrez (46 15-Jean Beausejour); 7-Alexis Sanchez, 11-Eduardo Vargas (81 9-Mauricio Pinilla).
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia).