World Cup 2014- Group B- Match Report: Netherlands 2 – Chile 0

World Cup 2014 Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Draw.

It looked like this match was going to be a scoreless one, but the Oranje played a ridiculous final twenty minutes in which they scored twice. They finished out the group stage in dominant form with this victory.

Goals:

Netherlands: Fer ‘77, Depay ‘92

Lineups:

Netherlands: Cillessen, Blind, Vlaar, De Vrij, Janmaat, Sneiijder, Wijnaldum, Robben, De Jong, Kuijt, Lens

Chile: Bravo, Jara, Mena, Aranguiz, Diaz, Gutierrez, Isla, Silva, Medel, Varas, Sanchez

The match got off to a slow start for both teams. Neither seemed able to find a rhythm. Chile dominated possession, but struggled to get a shot on target. The first real chance came for the Netherlands in the fortieth minute. Arjen Robben made a phenomenal run into the box, but his shot sailed just wide of goal.

Chile’s big chance- and big miss- came three minutes later. The team was awarded a free kick, which was beautifully taken by Marcelo Diaz. He was able to find Gutierrez right in front of goal, but somehow Gutierrez wasn’t able to get his header on target.

Half time came and went. Twenty more minutes came and went. Alexis managed a terrific shot, but Cillessen made the save.

Then Leroy Fer came on for Wesley Sneijder in the seventy-fifth minute. And then he scored a goal.

The Oranje held onto their narrow lead as the clock ticked towards ninety minutes. They doubled it just before the final whistle blew. Memphis Depay got one past Claudio Bravo, and that was the match. The Netherlands and Chile will advance out of the group while Spain and Australia head home.

– Katie Ann