June 16, 2006
ORANGE MOVE ON
Netherlands beats Ivory Coast; onto 2nd round

STUTTGART, Germany -- Robin Van Persie scored a goal and cleared a potential game tying score off the line as the Netherlands held on to defeat a surprising Ivory Coast 2-1 Thursday. The win guaranteed the Netherlanda a berth in the World Cuip second round, with Tuesday's match against England determining the first- and second-place spots in Group B.

Van Persie scored the first Dutch goal in the 23rd minute, firing a rocket of a left footed free kick into the upper left side of the net from just right of the penalty circle.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy sent the Dutch up 2-0 just four minutes later, on a wonderful combination with Arjen Robben near the midfield. Robben, who was criticized earlier in the tournament for failing to pass the ball enough, drew most of the Ivory Coast defense into the center of the penalty area, leaving the Manchester United striker in the clear on the left side. Robben threaded a perfectly-timed ball to Van Nistelrooy, who deposited it the net from 15 yards.

Just when the match threatened to take on the character of the day's earlier result, Argentina's 6-0 dismantling of Serbia-Montenegro, Ivory Coast pulled one back in the 38th minute on a spectacular solo play by Bakaray Kone.

Moving across the width of the field, Kone went to the far right of the penalty area and teed up a shot that went to the far left of the netting.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had a chance to equalize four minutes later on a breakaway, but his attempt was cut down by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. In stoppage time of the first half, Arounda Kona sent a 19 yard shot over the net.

Van Nistelrooy almost picked up his second goal of the match in the 51st minute, sending a shot from just outside the penalty area right at Ivory Coast goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie.

Van Persie made the defensive play of the game in the 77th minute, during a frantic Ivory Coast series, ultimately clearing Drogba's shot off the line with his chest.

Ivory Coast continued to challenge late in the game, putting serious pressure on the Dutch defense and goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar, but the had no serious scoring challenges, despite controlling the ball in front of the Dutch net most of three minutes of stoppage time.

Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz handed out seven yellow cards in the match, including one to Drogba, who will have to sit out Ivory Coast's World Cup finale against Serbia-Montenegro.

Netherlands
Edwin Van Der Sar; Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Andre Ooijer, John Heitinga (Khalid Boulahrouz-45); Philipp Cocu, Mark Von Brommel, Wesley Sneijder (Rafael Van Der Vaart-49), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Denny Landzaat-72), Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie.

Ivory Coast
Jean-Jaques Tizie; Arthur Boka, Kolo Toure, Abdoulaye Meite, Emmanuel Eboue; Didier Zokora, Yaka Toure, Romaric (Gilles Yapi Yapo-61); Arouna Kone (Kanga Akale-72), Didier Drogba, Bakary Kone-Aruna Dindane-61).

Goals
Netherlands -- Robin Van Persie 23
Netherlands -- Ruud Van Nisltelrooy 27
Ivory Coast -- Bakary Kone 38

Discipline
Ivory Coast -- Dider Kora (yellow card) 25
Netherlands -- Arjen Robben (yellow card) 34
Netherlands -- Joris Mathijsen (yellow card) 35
Ivory Coast -- Didier Drogba (yellow card) 41
Netherlands -- Mark Von Brommel (yellow card) 58
Ivory Coast -- Arthur Boka (yellow card) 66
Netherlands -- Denny Landzaat (yellow card) 94+

Attendance -- 52,000