May 17th 2005 |
Yokohama, International Stadium
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NETHERLANDS - SOVIET UNION |
2-1 (1-0)
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GOALS 4' 1-0 Johan Cruijff
65' 2-0 Willy van der Kuijlen
69' 2-1 Oleg Kuznetsov
REFEREE Said Belqola (Morocco)
ATTENDANCE 71,000
YELLOW CARDS Israël, Suurbier (NED) - Mikhailichenko, Kuznetsov (SOV)
NETHERLANDS (Coach: Rinus Michels, system 4-3-3)
1 Jan van Beveren
2 Wim Suurbier
18 Cor van der Hart
6 Rinus Israël
5 Ruud Krol
7 Johan Neeskens
11 Willy van der Kuijlen (-74)
10 Wim van Hanegem
20 Faas Wilkes (-86)
13 Beb Bakhuys (-65)
14 Johan Cruijff (captain)
Substitutes:
9 Marco van Basten (+65)
21 Jan Wouters (+74)
22 Bertus de Harder (+86)
SOVIET UNION (Coach: Valeri Lobanovski, system 4-3-3)
1 Lev Yashin
2 Vladimir Bessonov
4 Oleg Kuznetsov
6 Albert Shesternev (captain)
5 Anatoli Demianenko (-46)
8 Vladimir Muntian (-75)
7 Aleksei Mikhailichenko
16 Vasili Rats
14 Eduard Strelzov
10 Vsevolod Bobrov (-80)
11 Oleg Blokhine
Substitutes:
13 Aleksandr Zavarov (+46)
21 Anatoli Ilyin (+75)
9 Oleg Protasov (+80)
MATCHREPORT
Some of the Dutch players feared the clash with the Soviet Union.
Lobanovski's teams had always been hard nuts for them to crack. The Russians
were always able to control the pace of the game very well and were quick in
the counter-attack. And also in this tournament they had shown that their
play was very much directed towards the opponent's goal and that they were
very quick in the transition.
In the Holland team Frank Rijkaard missed out due to suspension and Michels
surprisingly chose Cor van der Hart in his place, a player relying more on
his playing skills than on his abilities as a manmarker. For the rest the
team was complete. Wilkes and Bakhuys were yet again preferred to Gullit and
Van Basten, Cruijff once more started from the left side but of course he
covered most of the pitch. In the Soviet team no big surprises. Lobanovski
brought his first choice back for this big game, of course.
Lev Yashin entered the game unbeaten in his first two games (Dassaev had
played in the last groupmatch) but saw his run ended already in the 4th
minute. Van Hanegem got the ball in midfield and played it precisely to
Johan Cruijff, left alone by Bessonov on the left. From a narrow angle the
Dutch captain circled it beautifully over the jumping Yashin into the far
corner. A brilliant goal! But it hadn't been the first chance in the match.
Just after the beginning the Soviet Union had broken through on the right,
Strelzov took the ball from Krol and offered a heading opportunity to
Bobrov. Dutch goalkeeper Van Beveren needed a little miracle to get it over
the bar.
The quick lead was exactly what Holland had hoped for. The Soviet Union now
had to leave their defensive positions and offer space for the Dutch
strikers. A game developed with chances on both sides and with two
goalkeepers of the highest stature who had brought their best form with
them. Yashin saved a diving header from Bakhuys and a hard shot from Van der
Kuijlen, Van Beveren dived into Blokhine's feet and parried a low drive from
Mikhailichenko. Van der Hart had a tough time against Bobrov, just like
Suurbier against Blokhine. The Dutch right back fouled him numerous times,
until referee Belqola thought it was enough and he showed Suurbier the
yellow card. It meant a suspension for Suurbier, in case Holland would make
it to the quarter final. Earlier Rinus Israël had received a yellow card for
a foul on Strelzov. Later in the match Mikhailichenko and Kuznetsov would
also disappear into Belqola's book, for Kuznetsov also a second booking and
therefore a suspension for a possible next match.
Just before the break Holland got the ideal opportunity to double the score.
Cruijff again was far too quick for Bessonov and sent a perfect cross to
Neeskens. The midfielder shot it sharp into the corner, but Yashin saved it
magnificently. All that left Holland was a corner. Holland and the
Soviet Union had played a fine first half with chances for both teams. During
half-time Lobanovski took Demianenko off and put Zavarov in the team. Vasili
Rats went to the left back position. Holland had to adjust and Neeskens was
connected to Zavarov. Mikhailichenko now got more freedom and he took it. He
created a lot of danger from the left side were Suurbier had to be careful
against Blokhine. The Kiev man could cross twice, Mikhailichenko came within
inches of reaching the first one before Israël could kick it away, Bobrov
headed the second straight to a well positioned Van Beveren. Mikhailichenko
tried again from outside the box, the ball was deflected by Israël but Van
Beveren stopped it just before the line. Holland were under pressure, the
Soviets imposed with quick play and also created chances.
When Holland scored the 2-0, it was unexpected. The Dutch got a free kick
when Rats had fouled Wilkes. Cruijff played it to Van der Kuijlen, who
pulled the trigger from 22 metres. Yashin was left moveless: 2-0. Michels
immediately substituted Bakhuys, controlled very well throughout the match
by Kuznetsov, with Van Basten. Still Holland had problems with the pace of
the game, especially in midfield they were overrun from time to time.
Shortly after the 2-0, the tension came back. From a corner kick Kuznetsov
dived in front of Van der Hart and finished it off: 2-1. The siege of Van
Beveren's goal could really start now.
Michels saw the danger, took Van der Kuijlen off and Wouters had to restore
the balance in midfield. He took over the marking of Zavarov, Neeskens went
back to Mikhailichenko. Lobanovski took Muntian, pale this time, off and
substituted him with striker Ilyin. In the 80th minute Protasov came for
Bobrov who had run out of steam. The Dutch team now withdrew a little more
from the Russian pressure, Van Hanegem and Cruijff tried to keep the ball
in the team and succeeded in doing so. The Soviet Union had one last chance
when Ilyin could shoot from 14 metres, but Van Beveren again kept it out.
During the last minutes the better chances were for Holand. Neeskens went
past Shesternev but found Yashin on his way. Bertus de Harder who had come
in for Wilkes had a last try but Yashin was in the right place again.
Holland kept the Russians off, but it had been a hardfought match and the
Soviets might have deserved to go into extra-time. Both teams had played
well, but Holland had been vulnerable defensively and thanked Jan van Beveren
for a faultless display. The next match would be in Rome against the winner
of the South-European confrontation between France and Portugal. Again a
match to look out for. Lobanovski and the Soviet Union bowed out, but had
shown the world to be worthy participants on the highest level.
Can Yugoslavia withstand the Hungarian attacking machine, or will Puskas and
his men continue to astound in this All Time World Cup on Friday? Both East-European
teams meet in Stockholm with Georges Capdeville as referee. Both teams are
complete. Yugoslavia welcome back stopper Katalinski who will be needed very
much to keep topscorer Kocsis at bay. Dragan Stojkovic is also available
again. Hungary will certainly keep on playing with their brilliant forward
line who have created so many problems for every defence they met. The world
awaits a high scoring game because the strikers are considered to be much
better than the defenders and both midfields do not contain many defensive
forces.
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