Shock comeback for the Dutch
June 29, 2014
Late goals from Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar finished off Mexico 2-1 in Fortaleza on Sunday. After taking a 1-0 lead early in the second half, Guillermo Ochoa's excellent goalkeeping looked like it would lead El Tri to victory. But the tired Mexicans had their hearts broken in the final moments, crashing out in the Round of 16 for the sixth straight World Cup.
After three wins in the group stage, Sunday's match was the first time Louis Van Gaal's side was tested in the brutal Brazilian heat and humidity. It was an ominous beginning for the Oranje against Mexico, with lynchpin midfielder Nigel de Jong going off after just nine minutes with an injury.
The first hour of the game was dominated by Mexico, who looked much more decisive in the final third. Giovanni Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta and Hector Herrara were a dangerous combination, while Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben looked isolated in the Dutch front line.
Dos Santos gave Mexico a deserved lead three minutes into the second half with a brilliant effort from the top of the box. Firing back across goal on the run, it was the best effort of the tournament from Mexico's number 10.
As the match wore on, however, it was the side from the Americas, not Europe, that appeared to tire. Ochoa put in yet another world class performance in goal for the Mexicans, but it was only a matter of time before the Dutch pulled one back.
The equalizer finally came in the 88th minute. A ball into the area was headed to the top of the box by Huntelaar, and Ochoa could only stand and watch as Sneijder rocketed a low volley into the back of the net.
The Netherlands sealed their quarterfinals berth in injury time, when Mexico captain Rafa Marquez appeared to trip Robben in the penalty box. Replays showed the Bayern Munich winger sold the call, but Marquez made contact with his foot nonetheless. Huntelaar duly buried the spot kick, eliminating Mexico.
"That's what you dream of as a young boy - to come back and score the deciding goal," Huntelaar said after the match. "It's simply fantastic."
It was a bitter defeat for Miguel Herrara's side, which looked set to be just the latest country to get the best of a European team in Brazil. It is the Netherlands who advance, however, thanks to the most-dramatic comeback of the World Cup so far.