Netherlands 2
Ivory Coast 1

Netherlands secured their place in the last 16 of the World Cup yesterday, withstanding a powerful Ivory Coast onslaught for a 2-1 victory. The Dutch seemed to be cruising after goals from Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooy put them 2-0 in front by the 26th minute. But they were made to fight all the way by the Africans, who are now eliminated.

A cagey opening barely hinted at the fireworks to follow, with an Ivory Coast penalty claim the main talking point when Giovanni van Bronckhorst wrapped an arm around Emmanuel Eboue.

The Dutch had hardly posed a threat but then produced two moments of quality to leave the Ivorians reeling.

After 23 minutes Van Persie's burst towards the area was brought to a clumsy end by Kolo Toure and the Arsenal striker picked himself up to slam an unstoppable free-kick past the flailing arms of goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie.

Worse was to follow for the Africans when Arjen Robben teased the defence before slipping a reverse pass for Van Nistelrooy to curl a first-time shot past Tizie.

The Ivorians refused to let their World Cup hopes sink before half-time.

First Didier Zokora shook the frame of the goal with a venomous right-foot blast, then the diminutive Bakary Kone halved the deficit with a contender for goal of the tournament.

Taking the ball off Zokora on the left, Kone raced diagonally towards goal before clipping a rising shot past Edwin Van der Sar after 38 minutes.

It was the first goal the Dutch had conceded in 11 competitive matches, ending Van der Sar's international clean-sheet record at 1,013 minutes.

The Dutch had not let in a goal in their previous 10 non-friendly encounters, an all-time European record.

The half-time interval took the wind out of the sails of the Ivory Coast as the early second-half exchanges were littered with niggly fouls.

But Van Persie came to the rescue for the uncomfortable Dutch after 78 minutes when he cleared off the line following a header from Didier Drogba.

Proud Van Persie

Robin van Persie said his team had received their reward for hard work and were proud of their achievement in reaching the last 16.

"We worked hard. We played well at times, we should be proud that we reached the next round," said Van Persie.

"We started very well in the first half, after that it became difficult. In the second half we could only defend ourselves," Dutch coach Marco van Basten said.

"We'll take it step by step, we'll see how it goes against Argentina."

Netherlands: 1-van der Sar; 14-Heitinga (3-Boulahrouz 46), 13-Ooijer, 4-Mathijsen, 5-van Bronckhorst; 18-van Bommel, 20-Sneijder (10-van der Vaart 50), 8-Cocu; 17-van Persie, 9-van Nistelrooy (6-Landzaat 73), 11-Robben.

Ivory Coast: 1-Tizie; 21-Eboue, 4-K. Toure, 3-A. Boka, 12-Meite; 5-Zokora, 14-B. Kone (15-Dindane 62), 19-Y. Toure, 22-Romaric (10-Yapi Yapo 62); 9-A. Kone (2-Akale 73), 11-Drogba.

Referee: Oscar Ruiz (Colombia).

Scorers: van Persie 23, van Nistelrooy 26; Kone 38.

Half-time: 2-1.

Attendance: 52,000.