World Cup
Oct 16, 2012 7.00pm
1
4
HT : 1 4
FT
  • Ciprian Marica 0' goal
  • goal Jeremain Lens 0'
  • goal Bruno Martins Indi 0'
  • goal Rafael van der Vaart 0'
  • goal Robin van Persie 0'

Netherlands win comfortably in Bucharest

Netherlands win comfortably in Bucharest

Netherlands have won the battle of Group D's unbeaten sides and have come away from Bucharest with a solid 4-1 win.

It was almost the home side who took the lead after just five minutes, but Gabriel Torje was unlucky to see his effort hit the bar.

Just four minutes later Netherlands were ahead through a Jeremain Lens header.

Robin van Persie put a header just wide on 27 minutes, before Bruno Martins Indi put the Dutch 2-0 up on 29 from a Rafael van der Vaart assist.

Five minutes before the break, Ciprian Marica pulled a goal back for Romania from a Torje corner.

However, the Dutch restored their two-goal cushion just before half-time when Van der Vaart converted a penalty just before the whistle.

Netherlands continued to push forward after the break and Van Persie had a headed effort blocked after 49 minutes.

Romania almost pulled it back to 3-2 on 52 minutes, but Bogdan Stancu's strike was well saved by Maarten Stekelenburg.

Despite the introduction of Adrian Mutu after 77 minutes, the away side well and truly wrapped up the points with three minutes of normal time to play, Van Persie finally getting his goal from Luciano Narsingh's assist.

The result puts Netherlands top of group D with four wins from four.

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