Mexico were just six minutes away from finally breaking their round of 16 jinx in the sweltering heat of Fortaleza, but just when you thought another fairytale World Cup story would continue to unfold, the Oranje lion would roar loudest in the final six minutes of the match to seal an incredible comeback and progress to the quarterfinals in a 2-1 win.
The moment Mexico’s dream of reaching the quarterfinals would come to an end.
It is unfortunately that we will all be bereft of the the brilliant goalkeeping of Guillermo Ochoa, the inspired defending of Rafa Marquez, the spirit with which the Mexican team played and the passionate touchline displays from Miguel Herrera. Mexico have been brilliant this summer, but so often at a World Cup, extra quality comes to the surface when you need it most, and this result may have not been the type of win the Netherlands was expecting, but is the result they needed.
"Starting XI’sNetherlands: Cillessen; Kuyt, Blind, Vlaar, de Vrij, Verhaegh; de Jong, Wijnaldum; Sneijder; van Persie, RobbenMexico: Ochoa; Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun; Herrera, Salcido, Guardado; Dos Santos, Peralta"
First Half
Within the first three minutes of the match, Dirk Kuyt had already perspired roughly half his body weight due to the blistering heat down on the pitch. Before ten minutes, Nigel de Jong was removed for Bruno Martins Indi due to an apparent injury. Now without their midfield bull dog, this was the start that the Netherlands certainly would not have wanted. As expected, Mexico looked far more acclimatized to the weather and early on, with the Netherlands were struggling to find their footing.
Giovanni Dos Santos would come close with this first half chance, one of many chances Mexico had in the opening 45 minutes
Already under pressure in the midfield and at the back, Miguel Herrera unquestionably told his players to go out and have proper go at the Dutch – surly the more tired they became early on, the better. Two long range chances by Miguel Layun and an excellent ball across the frame of goal by Andres Guardado were the highlights of the opening 15 minutes of a match where the Netherlands finally seemed beatable.
Mexico would come close in the 16th minute but Hector Herrera’s effort from just inside the box would go just wide of Cillessen’s right hand post. Another stinging long-ranged effort by Mexico would be turned around the post by Cillessen in the 24th minute – Mexico smelled blood, while the Netherlands were hanging on for dear life. They would however nearly find a breakthrough in the 27th minute when Robin van Persie brought a long ball down in the box, but his sloppy first touch would only result in a fluffed effort on his non-preferred right foot which would sail harmlessly wide.
Hector Herrera (in green) had a brilliant first half – he, along with his teammates, completely shut down the Netherlands vaunted attack.
Shouts for a penalty were unjustly ignored when Arjen Robben was fouled twice in a matter of five seconds in the box after pouncing on the lose ball that followed after Van Persie’s pass was originally blocked. It was to be the last major action of the half that saw Mexico the far better of the two sides. The heat continued to play a part in Fortaleza, and Mexico was having a real go at the Netherlands, while the Dutch were sitting back and trying to keep shape.
Second Half
The goal that so many expected to come, did come. In the 48th minute, Giovanni Dos Santos sent a 25-yard blockbuster past Cillessen to give Mexico a well deserved 1-0 lead. The goal would come from no where, as Dos Santos was well marked by all three Netherlands center-backs, but his effort was of such quality that Cillessen had no chance.
Giovanni Dos Santos caps off his fantastic World Cup with a brilliant goal to break the deadlock
The Netherlands would finally wake up after the goal however, and volley from a corner by Stefan de Vrij was brilliantly saved off the line by Ochoa five minutes after Mexico’s goal. The Netherlands would come close yet again just before the 60min mark when Robben found the desired amount of space on the right flank to tuck in centrally on the top of the box, drawing two and then three defenders to him when he then laid off for Sneijder who’s effort deflected just wide of the far post.
The Dutch were not finished yet, two minutes later a telling ball over the top from Robben nearly found Sneijder free and clear eight yards out but it was just too long for the Galatasaray orchestrator. Still and yet, the Dutch had finally come knocking, and Mexico had minutes before removed Dos Santos for Javier Aquino in a bid to shore up the midfield in anticipation of this.
Wesley Sneijder celebrates his brilliantly struck half-volley to level the match at 1-1
In a final throw of the dice, Louis van Gaal would replace Van Persie with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for the final 15minutes of the match after Memphis Depay eighteen minutes prior. The Netherlands would be made to wait, but the wait would be well worth it. It would take till the 88th minute, but the Netherlands finally had their equalizer. Robben whipped in a corner that was headed on by Huntelaar for Sneijder who sent an absolute rocket past Ochoa.
Huntelaar releases his tension after he celebrates his match-winning spot kick
The Netherlands were not done just yet. Another brilliant run by Robben to the end-line saw the winger brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded to the Netherlands. Huntelaar, known for being so cool from the spot, would convert in like fashion to give the Dutch a 2-1 lead with just three minutes remaining in stoppage time – the match would end by the same scoreline. So close for Mexico, nothing short of heartbreak, but truth be told, quality came to the fore when it mattered most, and the Dutch progress to the quarterfinals.
Man of the Match
Arjen Robben – He did not get himself on the scoresheet today, but once the Dutch got going, it was Robben leading the charge. So effective running at players down the right in the second half like we have seen so many times before, Robben created chances during the run of play but his renewed direct approach not only won the corner that led to Sniejder’s equalizer, but his preference for getting into the box and taking players on netted the Netherlands the spot kick that would be the winner. It was another match winning performance by Robben, and even though James Rodriguez has been getting all the headlines and so much emphasis has been put on Messi hopefully leading Argentina to World Cup glory on home soil, Robben has been right up there for player of the tournament.