Photo: Huntelaar celebrates scoring the winning penalty for the Netherlands, they defeated Mexico 2-1. (Getty Images)
The ‘perennial bridesmaid’ of world football, the Netherlands, seemed to be down and out but rallied late on to score twice in six minutes and break Mexican hearts. Substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar replaced his captain Robin van Persie and needed just two critical touches to send Holland to the last eight. The Schalke striker assisted Wesley Sneijder and then converted a penalty in stoppage time.
It was Mexico who dominated the proceedings especially in the first half and deserved much more than they got. They settled quickly in the heat of Fortaleza with their midfield maestro Hector Herrera at the heart of everything. The Porto midfielder set up Miguel Layun in the 6th minute but his shot from 25 yards went wide of the target. Louis van Gaal had to change his team 3 minutes later when Nigel De Jong was forced off due to injury and was replaced by Bruno Martins Indi.
Layun threatened again on 14 minutes when he got passed Paul Verhaegh down the left but his dangerous cross was just out of the reach of Giovanni dos Santos. Herrera should have tested Jasper Cillessen in the 17th minute when he linked up well with dos Santos but his shot went marginally wide of the right hand post from inside the penalty area. Carlos Salcido tested Cillessen in the 24th minute from long range as he stung his gloves and won a corner. Oribe Peralta was giving Ron Vlaar and Stefan De Vrij all sorts of problems but the striker failed to get his efforts on target.
In the 42nd minute, Cillessen came up big again when he denied dos Santos from an acute angle after another wonderful team move form El Tri. On the stroke of half time Rafael Marquez made a mistake which allowed van Persie to play in Arjen Robben who was brought down but no penalty was given. The half ended 0-0.
El Tri took a deserved lead 3 minutes after the restart through dos Santos. The Villarreal playmaker controlled the ball on his chest and fended off 3 opponents before unleashing a wonderful shot from about 30 yards into the bottom corner past the outstretched arm of Cillessen. This sprung the Dutch attack into life and Louis van Gaal made his intentions clear when he brought on super-sub Memphis Depay for right wing back Vertaegh on 56 minutes.
Guillermo Ochoa was at his absolute best in the 57th minute when he denied De Vrij from point blank range from a Robben corner. Four minutes later Wesley Sneijder went close with a shot just outside the penalty area after being set up by Robben. The Oranje were on the front foot but Mexico was looking a threat on the counter through the speed and trickery of substitute Javier Aquino. Ochoa denied Robben on 73 minutes after he got past Marquez down the right and had an effort on goal.
Carlos Salcido could have doubled the lead on 80 minutes when a loose ball fell kindly for him at the edge of the penalty area but the 34 year old fired high and wide. Sneijder drew level on 88 minutes following a Robben corner which Huntelaar nodded down to the Galatasaray man. He was all alone in the middle of the goal just inside the penalty area and rifled his shot pass Ochoa who had no chance.
Robben then won a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time when he was stepped on by Marquez by the touchline. There was contact but the Bayern Munich man made the most of it, falling theatrically and got the penalty. Huntelaar made no mistake dispatching it sending Ochoa the wrong way.
It was a devastating blow for El Tri who were just two minutes plus stoppage away from making history. They can be proud of their achievements in Brazil however as there performances have won them many fans
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