Arjen Robben Takes it Alone

Serbia & Montenegro vs Holland
Leipzig

Day three of the 2006 World Cup Finals.

Serbia & Montenegro started with the game-plan of trying to sit back (they have quite a good defensive record) and catch Holland on the break.

The 13th minute almost proved unlucky for Holland as Serbia & Montenegro tried to score from a cut-back, similar to Didier Drogba's goal against Argentina yesterday. This time, two Serbian strikers went for the ball and, in their mixed up confusion, missed the opportunity to take the lead.

Five minutes later, Arjen Robben drifted in from his wide position and beat the offside trap. Mark Van Bommel's pass was knocked on by Robin Van Persie, for Robben to storm through the middle and, even though his shirt was tugged, stay on his feet to slip the ball past Dragoslav Jevric.

Three minutes later, Robben tested Jevric again.

Robben was unlucky once more with a low, cross-shot that just crept past the far post; ten minutes before half-time.

The Dutch, having the game under control, slowed the tempo down a little just before the break and Ilija Petkovic was forced to make a sustitution to try and gain the initiative; to reign in Robben, while adding a little attacking verve on the break.

Ognjen Koroman's first two minutes on the pitch was immediately effective.

Half-time: (0-1).

After the break, Serbia & Montenegro brought on Nikola Zigic for Savo Milosevic, to add some height up front; the Red Star Belgrade player is even taller than Peter Crouch.

Serbia & Montenegro showed more composure in the second-half and it was the Dutch who startled to get rattled and show signs of cramp, as time wore on.

Edwin Van der Sar needed two attempts to hold onto Ognjen Koroman's drive, twenty minutes from time.

Holland had a real to chance to wrap the game, up minutes from time, as Van Persie's free-kick from the right-hand edge of the penalty area was driven low across the goalmouth, just wide of the far post. Any of three Dutch players could have gotten a toe to it.

Serbia & Montenegro tried to push forward and take advantage of how the heat was starting to affect the Dutch but they just didn't get the final touch.

It was almost a fight to hold on to the win for Holland, in the second-half, having dominated so much in the first forty five minutes.

Final Score:
Serbia & Montenegro 0 - Holland 1

Goalscorers:
0:1 Arjen Robben (18)

Teams
Serbia & Montenegro: (Captain Dragoslav Jevric)
1 Dragoslav Jevric; 3 Ivica Dragutinovic, 6 Goran Gavrancic, 14 Nenad Djordjevic, 20 Mladen Krstajic; 4 Igor Duljaj, 10 Dejan Stankovic, 11 Predrag Djordjevic, 17 Albert Nadj; 8 Mateja Kezman, 9 Savo Milosevic.

Netherlands: (Captain Edwin Van der Sar)
1 Edwin Van der Sar; 4 Joris Mathijsen, 5 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, 13 Andre Ooijer, 14 Johnny Heitinga; 8 Phillip Cocu, 18 Mark Van Bommel, 20 Wesley Sneijder; 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11 Arjen Robben, 17 Robin Van Persie.

Referee:
Markus Merk (Germany)

Our Man of The Match:
Arjen Robben controlled most of the first-half and scored the only goal of the game.