Group E - Matchday 2

Netherlands vs Japan 3-1 (1-0)

Durban Durban stadium was the venue where the group E leaders met in what was the most entertaining match of the day. Both teams had confidently won their first WC games without conceding, so the fans were expecting a tight game with the Dutch in control. Looking to improve their game, Japan approached the match with caution and focused on a solid defending with pacey counter-attacks. They finally gave in to the Dutch hassle in the 33rd minute when Van der Vaart launched a through ball for Van Persie, who scored with a well placed shot from inside the penalty area: 1-0 at halftime. The second half was somewhat different: Japan actively looked for the goal and posed some serious problems to the Orange defence - de Jong had to commit a tactical foul to break up a fast Japanese attack and was penalised with a yellow card, having to miss the last group game against Cameroon. However, the ones to score were the Dutch, who took advantage of the wide spaces in the Japanese defence - with van Persie assisting Kuyt to his second goal at this World Cup. The Japanese didn't give up and pulled one back through Okubo's goal, who managed to pass the ball past Stekelenburg after receveing it from Endo. Feeling they could get more from this game, the Dutch regained the initiative and forced for a third goal - and they got it: van Persie scored his second goal of the game with a nicely curling free-kick from outside the area.

MoM: Robin van Persie