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Home > News > The Netherlands lucky to grab crucial point in the dying seconds (PSV.nl)

The Netherlands lucky to grab crucial point in the dying seconds (PSV.nl)

11 aug 2008 - Source: PSV.nl

This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl


The Dutch Olympic team also drew their second group B game at the Beijing Olympics. Foppe de Haan's team recorded a 2-2 draw with the USA in Tianjin, following a goalless draw in Thursday's opening game against Nigeria. Former PSV striker Gerald Sibon rescued a valuable point for The Netherlands in the dying seconds. Otman Bakkal and Dirk Marcellis were included in the starting line-up.
Gerald Sibon
The Netherlands dominated the opening exchanges and Ryan Babel deservedly opened the scoring after fifteen minutes. The Liverpool striker headed Gianni Zuiverloon's perfect cross on goal. Goalkeeper Guzan made a save but the rebound fell to Babel, who slotted a high shot into the back of the net. The Americans fought admirably to pull themselves back into the game and forced keeper Kenneth Vermeer into a string a fine saves. Hedwiges Maduro spurned a golden opportunity to double Holland's lead on the stroke of half time. With the goal at his mercy, the Valencia midfielder sent a free header into the sidenetting. But then the USA took control and piled up the pressure, scoring two goals in the space of eight minutes. Kljestan leveled the score in the 64th minute and Altidore put his team on top in the 72nd minute. De Haan had already withdrawn Roy Beerens for Calvin Jong-a-Pin, and when Holland were trailing 2-1, De Haan brought in the forwards Roy Makaay and Gerald Sibon for Marcellis, who had been booked, and Royston Drenthe. The Netherlands won a free kick just outside of the penalty area, when Bakkal was fouled in the third minute of injury time. Sibon stepped up and drove the free kick under the U.S. wall and past Guzan to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Netherlands. Earlier on the day, Nigeria beat Japan 2-1. The Dutch team will play Japan on Wednesday at 11am and need a win to keep their hopes of progressing to the next round alive. The U.S team will meet Nigeria in the final group B game, also on Wednesday. The Americans are level with Nigeria atop Group B with Nigeria with four points each, two more than the Netherlands. Only two teams advance from the group stage.
Holland line-up:
Vermeer, Zuiverloon, Marcellis (75, Makaay), Jaliens, Emanuelson, Maduro, Bakkal, Beerens (Jong-a-Pin), De Guzman, Drenthe (75, Sibon) and Babel.