The Netherlands' Robin van Persie provided the first goal of the tournament contender for the 2014 World Cup with his beautiful header to equalize against Spain just before halftime.
Spain struck first in this rematch of the 2010 World Cup final with a Xabi Alonso penalty after the referee gifted Diego Costa
with a (now customary in this tournament) soft penalty in the 27th
minute. Spain then settled in as they looked to protect their lead and
continue a streak of not conceding a single goal that carried all
through the knockout stage four years ago.
But just as Spain seemed to be
in control, Manchester United striker Van Persie found himself alone
with the goalkeeper in front of him and the ball floating down from the
heavens, so he glided through the air like a low hanging Superman and
lobbed a header over Iker Casillas for the 44th minute equalizer.
Van Persie celebrated by running
to manager Louis van Gaal, who will join him at Man United next season.
And with the momentum in Holland's favor, Arjen Robben vanquished the ghost of his failed one v one in the 2010 final that has haunted him for the last four years by putting the Oranje up 2-1 in the 53rd minute on the reigning champions.
Taking further advantage of the Spaniards' wobble, the Dutch added another goal in the 64th minute when 22-year-old defender Stefan de Vrij
knocked in the first of his international career at the post. They
refused to let up as Casillas came way out to try and clear the ball
from a charging Van Persie, but the Dutch captain won out and put it in
the empty net to give the Netherlands a 4-1 lead in the 73rd minute. And
finally, Robben took advantage of a wandering Casillas again by making
it 5-1 in the 80th minute.
At this point, it should
probably be noted that Spain did lose 1-0 to a Swiss team less talented
than this Netherlands side to start the 2010 World Cup. Still,
Netherlands defender Bruno Martins Indi summed just about everyone's reaction to this with one facial expression...
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