Wales vs Netherlands. International Match.
Cardiff City Stadium.
Saturday 14 November 2015 02:17, UK
Two second half goals from Arjen Robben helped to give the Netherlands an entertaining 3-2 victory over Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Bas Dost gave the visitors the lead just past the half-hour mark before Joe Ledley equalised, scoring the rebound after Joe Allen's penalty was saved.
Robben's excellent individual effort restored the Netherlands' lead before Emyr Huws headed in from Allen's cross to draw Wales level for the second time in the match.
However, Robben struck again with 10 minutes remaining to give Danny Blind's side a much-needed win after their failure to qualify for Euro 2016.
The Dutch dominated possession from the first whistle with Arjen Robben always dangerous in a free role behind Dost. Despite that it took until the 17th minute for either side to have an effort on goal, Dost rising to meet Kongolo's cross but Wayne Hennessey was able to gather with ease.
Soon afterwards it was Wales who threatened with Tom Lawrence cutting inside Virgil van Dijk and getting a left-foot shot away after Allen's break forward.
The shot lacked power though and Jasper Cillessen was able to simply kneel down and pick the ball up.
Lawrence continued to look bright though on his full international debut and went close with a shot across goal after being found by Andy King down the right channel.
Two minutes later though and the Netherlands were in front. A move involving Wesley Sneijder, Robben and Quincy Promes ended with Daryl Janmaat clipping a lovely ball up to the far post for Dost to head past Hennessey.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead in the latter stages of the half as Sneijder teed up Promes, who saw his powerful effort parried by Hennessey.
Wales were handed a reprieve in stoppage time, though. Gunter's volley from a corner was blocked by the arm of Kongolo and, despite the Dutch protests, the referee pointed to the spot.
Allen stepped up but saw his kick saved by Cillessen, diving to his right. Ledley was following up though and side-footed the ball into the far corner to draw Chris Coleman's side level.
The Dutch responded well though and started strongly in the second period. Sneijder quickly put Robben in with a ball over the top and it looked for all the world that he would score.
However, Hennessey reacted brilliantly to keep out his stinging half-volley.
Robben was not to be denied though and when he received the ball wide on the right deep in the Wales half nine minutes after the restart, there was only one thing on his mind.
He cut inside and waltzed his way across the penalty area, waiting for the opportune moment before firmly slotting the ball into the far corner.
Promes had a similar chance as the clock ticked past the hour, after being played in by Robben, but saw his shot well blocked by substitute James Collins.
Within a minute, Wales could have been level. Lawrence got the better of Blind down the right and fizzed in a low cross. Joel Veltman got the slight touch on it but the ball ran for the onrushing George Williams, who could only stab it wide on the stretch from six yards out.
When the equaliser did come it was almost out of nothing. A short corner caught the Dutch defence napping and Allen floated a cross in that Huws met perfectly with a thumping header.
At that point, with 20 minutes remaining, Wales were in the ascendancy but were unable to fashion another chance of note.
Indeed, by the time Robben rolled in the winner he had already missed a gilt-edged opportunity - skewing the ball wide with the goal at his mercy six yards out.
He was rather more composed when the next chance came. Dost slid through a pinpoint pass and the Bayern winger advanced into the area before passing the ball past sub 'keeper Owain Fon Williams.
Wales huffed and puffed in search of a third equaliser but ultimately the Netherlands saw the game out with minimal fuss to show the hosts that they have still have work to do ahead of next summer's Euros.
