Goals: Australia—Cahill 21' Jedinak 54' (penalty); Holland—Robben 20' Persie 58' Depay 68'
Recap: An enthralling 90 minutes saw Holland capture a much-needed 3-2 victory over Australia on Wednesday.
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A frustrated Dutch side meandered around the pitch for the first 20 minutes, looking to finally break through the Australian defense. That moment came after Robben scorched the terrain and beat goalkeeper Maty Ryan to the far post. Australia answered just seconds after the restart. A pristine volley from Tim Cahill rattled off the crossbar and in, leveling the affair.
The entertainment continued in the second half. Captain Mile Jedinak gave Australia the 2-1 lead—thanks to a gifted penalty—only to see Robin van Persie equalize four minutes later. Memphis Depay delivered the match-winner for Holland in the 68th minute.
Key Moment: Australia had the opportunity to regain the lead in the 67th minute. Matt McKay repossessed the ball for his team following an error from Ron Vlaar. His immediate pass to Tommy Oar left his teammate with two options: Either put the ball on frame, or center it across the face of goal. The 22-year-old opted for the latter. A powered cross would bounce off the chest of Mathew Leckie and land safely in the arms of Jasper Cillessen. Immediately down the other end, Memphis Depay punished a squandered chance.
Man of the Match: Match by match, Holland's Arjen Robben is shedding his reputation for choking on the world's biggest stage. The 30-year-old, rejuvenated with his runs, once again delivered for for his team. An inspired performance saw two dribbles and one goal.
Lesson Learned: Group B belongs to Holland, but only if Holland wants it. After demolishing the defending champions (Spain) in the group opener, the Dutch rested on their laurels and looked past a gritty Australian side. A repeat performance against Chile won't be forgiven.
Up Next: Holland will look to finish atop Group B with a victory over Chile on June 23, while Australia will bow out of the 2014 World Cup against Spain.
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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