Dominant Dutch Gains Sweet Revenge over Holder Spain
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Netherlands national football team crushed defending World Cup champion Spain 5-1 in the opening fixture of Group B in Salvador Friday.
The Netherlands gained sweet revenge for defeat in the 2010 World Cup final, where the Oranje lost to Spain 1-0 in extra time.
Xabi Alonso had given Spain the lead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute after Diego Costa was brought down by Stefan de Vrij. One minute before the break, Robin van Persie equalized with a brilliant diving header.
Arjen Robben then fired the Dutch in front in the 53rd minute before de Vrij atoned for his earlier foul on Brazil-born Costa to make it 3-1 just after the hour mark.
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas made a big mistake in the 72nd minute and van Persie made it four and Robben burst clear of the Spanish defense eight minutes later to round off the scoring.
The result is Spain's worst at a World Cup finals in 64 years and leaves little room for error in the 2008 and 2012 European champion's remaining group games against Chile and Australia.
Robin van Persie was named Man of the Match.
"I did not expect that it would go this way, it could have been 6-1 or even more, and we had a very happy feeling," Dutch coach Louis van Gaal told reporters after the match.
"This is a nice start, but we have nothing. If we do not win our next game against Australia we have made no progress, but now we are obviously in a good position," he added.