First Half
The Dutch started the match with attacking intentions and needed only ten seconds to create the first chance of the game. Arjen Robben went by his opponent on the left and sent in a sweet cross for Dirk Kuyt, who only just missed the ball.
Norway tested Maarten Stekelenburg for the first time after eight minutes. A throw in reached John Carew and the Aston Villa hitman tried his luck with a header that was picked up with ease by the Dutch goalie.
Kuyt came close to opening the score about five minutes later. Once again Robben had all the time and space he needed to cross the ball in from the left and set up Kuyt. The Liverpool man aimed his header just too high though and the chance went begging.
Robin van Persie found the net after sixteen minutes with a placed effort in the far corner. However, the referee disallowed the goal for offside, which is clearly wasn’t as the replays showed.
Robben kept on causing his opponents all kinds of trouble and saw a powerful shot sailing just wide from a narrow angle after being set up by Kuyt and Van Persie.
Holland picked up a deserved lead around the half hour mark after the referee awarded the Dutch a free kick on the left wing. Rafael van der Vaart stepped up to swing in the cross and Andre Ooijer beat his marker to the ball before heading home from close range.
Van Persie could have doubled the lead for Oranje ten minutes before the interval. However, he failed to control a long ball from Andre Ooijer, while being one-on-one with the Norwegian shot stopper and squandered the chance.
Once again Van Persie tested the Norwegian goalie in the dying minutes of the first half with a curled long range strike. However, Knudsen wasn’t impressed with the effort and saved the shot with relative ease.
Second Half
Norway started the second half brilliantly and got their first serious chance of the match after only three minutes. Blackburn Rovers midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen cut inside from the left before unleashing a curled effort towards the far corner, which was only narrowly saved by Stekelenburg.
Holland almost hit the Norwegians on the counterattack a minute later via Van der Vaart. Robben set up his Madrid team mate at the left wing, but Van der Vaart’s shot went inches wide of the target.
Arjen Robben doubled the lead for Holland after an exciting attack in the 50th minute. Van der Vaart set up Van Persie, who reached Robben inside the box. The latter didn’t hesitate and beat the Norwegian goalie with a shot into the far corner.
Once again Robben tried his luck around the hour mark. Kuyt was denied by the Norwegian defence, but the loose ball fell to Robben. Nevertheless, his powerful effort didn’t trouble Knudsen too much.
Atletico Madrid defender John Heitinga ran down the right wing around the hour mark before picking out Robben with a cross. However, the Madrid winger aimed wide of the goal and the chance went wandering.
AZ midfielder Stijn Schaars could have added his name to the score about fifteen minutes before the final whistle, but his powerful effort was saved by the Norway glovesman.
Van der Vaart almost made it three for the Dutch after 87 minutes of play from a free kick. The Madrid playmaker fired in a free kick from about 25 yards, but Knudsen pulled off a superb save to deny Van der Vaart.
Then Kuyt cut inside from the left wing before unleashing a low right footed effort in the dying seconds of the match. Knudsen wasn't troubled by his weak shot though and made the save.
Substitute Ryan Babel also got a chance to add his name to the score sheet, but the Liverpool winger aimed just wide from a narrow angle and his shot only hit the side netting.
Goals
1-0, Ooijer 33'
2-0, Robben 51'
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