Full-time - 90'
Cameroon
1 - 2
Netherlands

Group E, 18:30 GMT, June 24, 2010

Green Point Stadium


Holland made it three wins from as many Group E matches with victory in their dead rubber against Cameroon in Cape Town.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Arjen Robben - While the Dutch were generally solid and occasionally produced flashes of quality, Robben's 73rd-minute introduction suggested the Dutch have every reason to dream of a first World Cup triumph this summer. He was inventive and bright, and the strike that came off the post to provide Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with the winner was sublime.

Cameroon verdict: Uninventive, the Indomitable Lions were always looking for Geremi to provide the ammunition but his delivery was not quite up to scratch. Eto'o provided moments of genuine quality, and a young Aboubakar looked lively after being brought on, but it was an uninspired performance from a team that had already failed to live up to their potential and suffered the ignominy of an exit before the final game had begun.

Netherlands verdict: Far from their best, the Oranje played in second gear for much of the game, not really coming alive until Robben's introduction. There were flashes of quality to suggest that they may be genuine contenders but, in a listless match in which they simply looked to stay in control, they rarely looked troubled.

Could do better: Rigobert Song - A seasoned veteran, Song looked well out of his depth when he came on for a brief cameo. Should be honoured for his tremendous commitment to the national team, but he showed that it is time to step aside and let some young blood step into the national set-up. Showed zero pace and Robben ran him ragged.

Stat attack: Cameroon have never conceded first and come back to win. In 1998, the Indomitable Lions came back from one down to draw against Chile.


With Holland already through to the second round and Cameroon out, it took Robin van Persie's 36th-minute flash of inspiration to get things going.

Samuel Eto'o's second-half penalty levelled matters until substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar's 82nd-minute winner continued the group winners' momentum heading into a last-16 clash with Slovakia.

Holland came into the match on an unbeaten run of 21 international matches and had produced wins against Denmark and Japan to secure their progression.

Bert van Marwijk opted not to risk starting with Arjen Robben, who is yet to feature due to a hamstring problem, while Van Persie and Nigel de Jong were included despite being a booking away from suspension.

Rafael van der Vaart dragged one wide for Holland early on and Cameroon's Aurelien Chedjou fired a weak effort at Maarten Stekelenburg.

Dirk Kuyt picked up a needless booking before Van Persie could only fire straight at Hamidou Souleymanou after brilliantly setting himself up by chesting down Giovanni van Bronckhorst's chip forward.

In the 31st minute Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun headed over from Geremi's cross before Kuyt dragged one wide for Holland. Finally the crowd had something to cheer after 35 minutes when Van Persie opened the scoring, playing a neat one-two with Van der Vaart before firing between Souleymanou's legs.

After five minutes of the second half Mark van Bommel played a nice sweeping ball forward for Van Persie which his colleague wastefully hit at the goalkeeper.

Sneijder's free-kick was on target but lacked power while Cameroon showed little conviction going forward. Van Persie was withdrawn before the hour mark with Huntelaar coming on.

Cameroon's best chance came moments later when substitute Vincent Aboubakar's clever reverse pass found Makoun - who looked offside - but the midfielder was denied by Stekelenburg with Chedjou then blasting over from the loose ball.

Cameroon were then handed a 64th-minute penalty by referee Pablo Pozo when Van der Vaart raised his arm to block Geremi's free-kick, receiving a booking for his trouble. Captain Eto'o kept his nerve to convert a perfect spot-kick.

Van Marwijk sent on Eljero Elia for Kuyt with Robben still waiting in the wings while De Jong could not properly connect with Van der Vaart's teasing free-kick. Van Bronckhorst was then harshly booked for pulling down Aboubakar.

Stephane Mbia headed over from a set-piece before Cameroon boss Paul Le Guen made substitutions of his own, with veteran Rigobert Song getting a brief taste of his fourth World Cup tournament.

Meanwhile, Robben's strip-tease down to his playing kit excited the crowd before he came on for Van der Vaart. He made an impact quickly, too, cutting inside and firing a trademark left-footed shot which hit the post and fell to Huntelaar to restore his side's lead.