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| Van Persie gave his team the early lead. Photo Credit: Dita Alangkara/AP |
Netherlands locked up 3rd place in the 2014 World Cup with a 3-0 rout over Brazil.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Not even a minute into the first half, Arjen Robben surged into the box only to be pulled down by Thiago Silva. Referee Djamel Haimoudi signaled for the penalty kick but to the surprise of many only issued a yellow card to Silva instead of a red card.
Robin van Persie stepped up calmly and blasted a curling shot that found the upper corner of the right net for the 1-0 lead. Brazil had an opportunity to the tie the match on a crossing pass into the box but Ramires was unable to get a leg on the ball.
Netherlands extended their lead at the 17 minute mark on a poor clearing header attempt by David Luiz led to Daley Blind corralling the ball in the center of the box and rifling a shot top shelf into the middle of the net.
Goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen came up with a diving stop at the 21st minute off a shot from Oscar just outside the box. Several minutes later Brazil had another golden opportunity off a free kick from close range but Luiz was unable to head the ball home.
Adding fuel to the frustration of Brazil’s players and fans were two players missing the ball inside the penalty are off another free kick from Oscar in the 37th minute. Julio Cesar made a diving stop off a Van Persie one hop bouncer in the 40th minute. Heading off the field for half time the crowd booed the Brazilian players vociferously.
Georginio Wijnaldum salted the match away in injury time with a sweeping right footed shot past Cesar into the right corner of net increasing the margin to 3-0. The 12 goals allowed by Brazil in this year’s World Cup were the most given up in team history. Furthermore, the first time since 1970 Brazil has given up multiple goals in back to back games in the World Cup. 