2014 World Cup - Quarterfinals - Netherlands vs Costa Rica
Netherlands 0 vs Costa Rica 0 - "A clash of contrasting styles as Costa Rica's defense with
only 2 goals allowed proves CONCACAF are not patsies."
As billed... the immovable object (Los Ticos defense) vs the irresistible force (A Clockwork Orange) went the distance 120' to a shootout.
Van Gaal makes an attacking gambit with two changes, replacing midfielder De Jong (nursing a groin injury) with Martins Indi, and left back Verhaegh with striker Depay. Pinto names Acosta to replace defender Duarte (bookings).
A real stalemate, as the Dutch controlled the match with Robben, VanPersie, Kuyt and Sneijder taking runs and triangulating on the five man Costa Rican backline...
while Los Ticos were content to patiently sit back and staunchly defend with rare counters. Navas had a heroic day denying the Dutch any entries on goal for 120'.
At 38' Sneijder curls a free kick over the wall towards the left top which appears spot on,
but Navas extends for the tip around the post.
At 82' from the far left of Costa Rica's 12 yd box, Sneijder curls a free kick which bangs off the left-hand post and back out into the middle of the box.
Navas is completely beaten and plenty of orange shirts are waiting, but unlike Argentina's fortuitous bounce earlier today, it doesn't break to any of them as Los Ticos clear it.
At 88' Sneijder makes some space on the left hand edge of the box, and sends a perfect cross into the middle of the box for VanPersie, who is
clear 6 yds out.
As the ball gently drops towards VanPersies feet, he has a deja-vu from his nightmares, his legs move very slowly and become dyslexic as he completely whiffs and the ball clears the box untouched.
At 93' a low cross from the left is met by VanPersie 6 yds out at the far post. His low shot towards the bottom right is cleared off the goalline, as Tejeda kicks it straight in the air and the ball rattles off the crossbar. Overtime is upon us.
At 113' Lens springs clear into the box down the left for a one on one with Navas, only to be denied on a spectacular save. Lens was called offside, one of 13 times the Orange were flagged in this match.
Amazingly with a five back line, Los Ticos drew opponents offsides 39 times, more than double the next best in this Cup, USA at 18.
At 121' With PK's in mind, Van Gall replaces goalkeeper Cillessen with Krul. The gambit would payoff, bigtime, as prior to each PK attempt Krul would not wait in the goal mouth or on the line...
Instead he ambled around the 12 yd box, muttering to himself and would get into the face of the penalty taker and let them know, that they knew, that he knew, where they were going to put it.
Both sides convert 1st tries 1-1, top of the 2nd, Ruiz goes for the bottom right corner, it's weak and Krul gets a hand on it to deny Los Ticos.
Robben converts making it 2-1 Dutch. Both sides convert 3rd & 4th tries, 4-3 Dutch. Top of the 5th, Krul tips Umana's weak effort towards the bottom right around the post.
Its sheer Dutch Delight as a Clockwork Orange celebrate their moving on to face Los Gauchos in the Semis.
As billed... the immovable object (Los Ticos defense) vs the irresistible force (A Clockwork Orange) went the distance 120' to a shootout.
Van Gaal makes an attacking gambit with two changes, replacing midfielder De Jong (nursing a groin injury) with Martins Indi, and left back Verhaegh with striker Depay. Pinto names Acosta to replace defender Duarte (bookings).
A real stalemate, as the Dutch controlled the match with Robben, VanPersie, Kuyt and Sneijder taking runs and triangulating on the five man Costa Rican backline...
while Los Ticos were content to patiently sit back and staunchly defend with rare counters. Navas had a heroic day denying the Dutch any entries on goal for 120'.
At 38' Sneijder curls a free kick over the wall towards the left top which appears spot on,
but Navas extends for the tip around the post.
At 82' from the far left of Costa Rica's 12 yd box, Sneijder curls a free kick which bangs off the left-hand post and back out into the middle of the box.
Navas is completely beaten and plenty of orange shirts are waiting, but unlike Argentina's fortuitous bounce earlier today, it doesn't break to any of them as Los Ticos clear it.
As the ball gently drops towards VanPersies feet, he has a deja-vu from his nightmares, his legs move very slowly and become dyslexic as he completely whiffs and the ball clears the box untouched.
At 93' a low cross from the left is met by VanPersie 6 yds out at the far post. His low shot towards the bottom right is cleared off the goalline, as Tejeda kicks it straight in the air and the ball rattles off the crossbar. Overtime is upon us.
At 113' Lens springs clear into the box down the left for a one on one with Navas, only to be denied on a spectacular save. Lens was called offside, one of 13 times the Orange were flagged in this match.
Amazingly with a five back line, Los Ticos drew opponents offsides 39 times, more than double the next best in this Cup, USA at 18.
At 121' With PK's in mind, Van Gall replaces goalkeeper Cillessen with Krul. The gambit would payoff, bigtime, as prior to each PK attempt Krul would not wait in the goal mouth or on the line...
Instead he ambled around the 12 yd box, muttering to himself and would get into the face of the penalty taker and let them know, that they knew, that he knew, where they were going to put it.
Both sides convert 1st tries 1-1, top of the 2nd, Ruiz goes for the bottom right corner, it's weak and Krul gets a hand on it to deny Los Ticos.
Robben converts making it 2-1 Dutch. Both sides convert 3rd & 4th tries, 4-3 Dutch. Top of the 5th, Krul tips Umana's weak effort towards the bottom right around the post.
Its sheer Dutch Delight as a Clockwork Orange celebrate their moving on to face Los Gauchos in the Semis.
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