Memphis Depay hits the winner as Louis van Gaal's men close in on World Cup last 16
- Substitute Depay completed Holland's comeback after Australia had led 2-1
- Mile Jedinak gave Australia the lead from the penalty spot after Tim Cahill's stunning volley had cancelled out Arjen Robben's opener
- Robin van Persie struck to make it 2-2 in Porto Alegre
- Louis van Gaal's Holland are now on the brink of the last 16
Australia 2-3 Holland: Match Zone
This, even Louis van Gaal would have to concede, was not a game for sitting on a barstool. It was a game that had you on your feet. That had you wondering if the World Cup that keeps on giving really can get any better.
The finest players on the planet will certainly do well here in Brazil to better Tim Cahill’s 21st minute strike; an equaliser that goes straight into the greatest volleys in history file alongside men like Marco van Basten, Tony Yeboah, Paolo Di Canio and Robin van Persie. It was Australia’s 10th World Cup goal and a perfect one at that.
But it was more than just the quality of the goals. It was the sheer, unexpected drama of the encounter. The courage and determination of an Australian team, the lowest ranked side in the competition, that dared to dream and dared even to lead the beaten finalists of 2010 and most recent conquerors of Spain.
Comeback complete: Holland substitute Memphis Depay scores from outside the box to make it 3-2
Frustrated figure: Australia goalkeeper Matthew Ryan can only watch as Depay's effort squirms into the back of the net
Unstoppable: Australia's Tim Cahill unleashes a left-footed volley to level the score at 1-1
Top technique: Cahill keeps his eye on the ball as he scores his second goal of the World Cup
Stunner: Cahill's effort beats Holland keeper Jasper Cillessen and goes in off the underside of the bar
Centre of attention: New York Red Bulls midfielder Cahill wheels away to celebrate his strike
Mobbed: Cahill is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring his country's equaliser in style
VIDEO Top 10 Goals from Qualifying
MATCH FACTS
Australia (4-2-3-1): Ryan 5; McGowan 7, Wilkinson 6, Spiranovic 6, Davidson 6; Jedinak 7, McKay 6; Leckie 7, Bresciano 6 (Bozanic 51 6), Oar 6 (Taggart 77 ); Cahill 6 (Halloran 69 6)
Booked: Cahill
Goals: Cahill, Jedinak (pen)
Holland (3-4-1-2): Cillessen 6; Vlaar 5, De Vrij 6, Martins Indi 6 (Depay 45 8); Janmaat 5, De Guzman 6 (Wijnaldum 78 6), De Jong 6, Blind 6; Sneijder 6; Van Persie 6 (Lens 87 6), Robben 6
Booked: Van Persie
Goals: Robben, Van Persie, Depay
Referee: D Haimoudi (Algeria)
Man of the match: Depay
*Match ratings by MATT LAWTON in Porto Alegre
They did so because the Dutch were complacent, and defensively disorganised. Having beaten Spain 5-1, they clearly thought this was going to be easy. How wrong they were.
Arjen Robben might have opened the scoring but after little more than a minute Cahill had levelled in spectacular style, and deservedly so. Australia had been the better team against their apathetic opponents, maintaining that momentum to the break.
For Van Gaal it was proving most uncomfortable. More even than he imagined when he complained that a restricted view meant he might have to stand, or perhaps bring a barstool, to see from the sunken dug-outs. It seemed he did get the television cameraman moved, having also moaned about that.
But the Australians were giving him a much bigger problem, so much so that Van Gaal abandoned the 3-5-2 formation he had employed for this tournament and switched to a back four. In fairness to Manchester United’s next manager, he had said a back four might work better against these opponents.
Deadly: Holland winger Arjen Robben (right) drives the ball into the bottom corner to give his side the lead
Nothing but net: Robben's powerful effort eludes Australia goalkeeper Matthew Ryan
Helpless: Ryan watches on as Robben's shot nestles into the bottom corner after 20 minutes
On fire: Robben celebrates scoring his third goal of the competition in only his second game
Holland's Wesley Sneijder saw plenty of the ball on the left side of midfield in his side's 3-2 win against Australia - Click here for more in our Match Zone
It proved a smart move, even if his side first had to overcome an Australia penalty before Robin van Persie struck an equaliser and Memphis Depay produced a slightly fortuitous winner.
After that thumping victory against Spain Van Gaal stuck with the same side, no doubt in the hope of being able to rest players in their final group game.
Australia made just two changes, bringing in Ryan McGowan and Matt McKay. But they employed the same determined approach they demonstrated against Chile. Even though they lost that game, their effort could not be faulted.
Indeed here they actually displayed more energy than the Dutch in the opening exchanges. Van Gaal’s side were a little sluggish and disjointed. Perhaps even a touch complacent.
But a goal for the Dutch nevertheless came, and far too easily for Australia’s liking. It was classic Robben, from the manner in which he escaped the clutches of Alex Wilkinson to the way he then accelerated away before driving a low, left-foot shot past Matthew Ryan. But it was the failure to close him down, in particular by Matthew Spiranovic, that would have disappointed Ange Postecoglou.
On the spot: Mile Jedinak scores from the penalty spot to put Australia in front on 54 minutes
Perfect penalty: Jedinak's spot-kick is fired into the bottom corner of the Holland goal
All smiles: Jedinak celebrates his goal as his Australia team-mates run to join him at the Estadio Beira-Rio
Of course, Australia’s coach was on his feet only 69 seconds later, courtesy of Cahill’s quite staggering finish. It was brilliant, spectacular; the fashion in which he connected with McGowan’s long diagonal ball just fantastic; a left-foot volley, his weaker foot, crashing home off the underside of the crossbar.
A further opportunity would fall to Robben but to Mark Bresciano an even better chance would come. He had the goal at his mercy but just when it seemed he would send Australia into a most unexpected lead, he blasted his effort over the bar.
If Van Gaal’s view was less restricted, he would not have been happy with what he was seeing. Even less so when Cahill caught Bruno Martins Indi with a foolishly late challenge. Particularly foolish given it earned the former Everton midfielder a yellow card that rules him out of the final group game against Spain. It also marked the end if Martins Indi’s afternoon. He left the field on a stretcher, with Depay coming on to replace him.
Lining it up: Holland striker Robin van Persie (centre) prepares to strike the ball at goal
Rocket: Van Persie smashes a powerful strike into the roof of Australia's net to make it 2-2
Jumping for joy: Manchester United striker Van Persie leaps into the air to celebrate his goal
The half-time statistics said it all, though. Australia had enjoyed 51 per cent of the ball and they had managed five shots to Holland’s four. Van Gaal needed to make a change and he did, switching to that back four formation.
No sooner had the second half started than Van Persie had also collected a booking – for a naughty lash out at Matthew Spiranovic - that excludes him from the next game. So that was both centre-forwards in the book.
But Van Gaal’s mood would darken further still, with the sight of Mile Jedinak scoring the 54th minute penalty that put Australia ahead.
The penalty, while it clearly struck Daryl Janmatt’s hands, was harsh given the arm was down and Oliver Bozanic’s cross was struck from close-range. But Djamel Haimoudi pointed immediately to the spot and the Australia captain converted with ease.
Under pressure: Australia's Tommy Oar (right) attempts a pass as Robin van Persie (left) closes him down
Going down: Australia midfielder Mark Bresciano falls on top of Holland's Nigel de Jong during the first half
Yellow: Cahill is booked after clashing with Holland defender Bruno Martins Indi (right)
Game over: Martins Indi is placed on a stretcher and taken off the pitch after being injured
Four minutes later and the Dutch would draw level, Van Persie turning brilliantly on a neat pass from Depay before slotting his shot beyond the reach of Ryan.
But Van Persie was flirting dangerously with controversy too, a clattering challenge on Jedinak serious enough for the Algerian referee to at least consider a second yellow for the Holland skipper.
In the end, the Dutch just proved too strong, too technical good, for the courageous Australians, even if McKay perhaps should have scored prior to Depay’s 68th minute winner; a 30-yard shot that Ryan, on reflection, is sure to feel he should have saved.
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