Match Report Netherlands vs Russia
Ru sia entered the match full of confidence after completly outplaying Sweden but they knew they were up against it in this game against the Netherlands.The first half of this game was very much Ru sias they dominated po sesion but couldnt put the ball in the net on the other hand the Netherlands didnt produce as much of there usual counter atttack and only looked dangerous from set pieces.Yuri Zhirkov went close with a sixth-minute free-kick that Edwin
Clayton Stoner Men Jersey Van der Sar was forced to touch behind for a corner, from which Ru sia had succe sive chances from Denis Kolodin and Pavlyuchenko. The Netherlands had the next two opportunities, through Orlando Engelaars drive wide and a Van Nistelrooy mi s when Rafael van der Vaart sent a brilliant free-kick to the far post.Van der Sar was called into action again when he made a great low save after playmaker Arshavin tricked his way into a shooting position, while the corner that followed was cleared to Kolodin, who hammered a ridiculous shot from 35 yards that Van der Sar again kept out. Kolodin
Break Women Jersey a few minutes later launched another rocket but just mi sed it going past the post.The Dutch were ralling to try and produce some of their group form and almost exposed a vulnerable Ru sian defence. Kolodin who was attacking strongly left his defencive duties behind which almost let Van Nistelrooy in before he handed a chance on a plate to Van der Vaart, who was denied by keeper Igor Akinfeev.So both teams went into half time at 0-0 with Guus Hiddinks Ru sia looking very strong against a unbelievable poor Netherlands after their group form. Van Basten decided to make a half time change and brought Robin van Persie on for the ineffectual Dirk Kuyt. Only 11 minutes into the second half Ru sia struck: Arshavin played a cute pa s into Sergei Semak on the left, who whipped in a superb cro s to Pavlyuchenko who atoned for his early mi s with a simple finish past the helple s Van der Sar. With a 1-0 lead Ru sia looked in the prime position even if there was 3 quarters of the half left because they just kept attacking having plenty of near mi ses keeping Van der Sar busy.Netherlands huffed and puffed but Ru sia were holding firm, and a long-range effort from Wesley Sneijder was the closest they came to levelling.But it all changed with only 4
Griffin Reinhart Men Jersey minutes to go, Ru sia who had looked so strong and could of even been up by more than 1 goal conceded from? what other than a set piece there major weakne s on the night. But with four minutes left, Ru sias inability to defend set pieces was finally exploited. From the left wing, Real Madrid midfielder Sneijder swung a dangerous free-kick into the box to which Ru sias back four got nowhere near. They also failed to track Van Nistelrooy, who flew in with a diving far-post header to make it 1-1.A moment of luck for Ru sia in injury time, Kolodin was shown a second yellow for a foul on Sneijder, but the double-whammy of going down to ten men and having to defend another free-kick was cancelled by the a sistant referee, who told Slovakian whistle-blower Lubos Michel that the ball had gone out of play moments before the challenge.So this match was headed for extra time Ru sia played better for 90% of the match but it doesnt matter in football Turkey is an example. Netherlands should be the fresher team after having 5 days off compared to Ru sias 3 but this wouldnt be such a big factor.Ru sias playmaker Arshavin went close in the opening minutes of extra time followed by Pavlyuchenko effort which hit the bar
Paul Thompson Jersey and post and somehow stayed out.Extra time was quickly becoming an all Ru sian attack with Ru sia mi sing many more chances they just couldnt find the net. But their cla s player Arshavin who mi sed the group games set up a goal: Arshavin raced down the left and swung a brilliantly-improvised far post lob to Torbinskiy who having just been booked and ruled out of the semi somehow flicked the ball with the outside of his left boot, from an impo sible angle, to beat Van der Sar.So Ru sia were 2-1 up but they wernt finished yet, Arshavin ran on from a quick throw, snuck behind the Dutch defence to drill a low shot under Van der Sar with four minutes of extra-time remaining.Ru sia won 3-1
Nate Schmidt Kids Jersey and deserved it they are off to the semi final to play either Italy or Spain and as all the underdogs have won the quarters Italy must become favorates for their game.
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