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Netherlands national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Mar 26, 2013 at 7.30pm UK
 
Romania national football team

4-0

Robin van Persie brace extends Netherlands lead at top of Group D

Van Persie brace extends Netherlands Group D lead
© PA Photos
A brace from Robin van Persie and a strike from Rafael van der Vaart extends Netherlands' lead at the top of Group D.

Netherlands have kept up their 100% record in their World Cup qualifying campaign as a Robin van Persie brace helped them to a 4-0 win over Romania.

Louis van Gaal's side started the game strongly and duly took the lead through Rafael van der Vaart. The midfielder latched onto Van Persie's pass and fired an effort low and hard into the bottom corner.

Adrian Popa could have got the visitors back in the game but his shot was well saved by Kenneth Vermeer who got down well to his right, after the defender picked up Gabriel Tamas's headed pass.

After the break, the hosts looked to extend their lead but first Van Persie then Van der Vaart missed good opportunities when well placed in the penalty area.

Minutes later, Van Persie did get his side's second with a well-placed header which beat Costel Pantilimon, as he got on the end of Arjen Robben's pinpoint cross.

It was three shortly after, when Jeremain Lens was fouled in the penalty area by Florin Gardos and Van Persie notched his second of the game converting the spot kick into the bottom corner.

Adrian Mutu and Razvan Rat both had late chances to get the visitors a consolation goal but they were denied and Lens secured the win for Van Gaal's side as he netted their fourth in stoppage time.

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Simon Sinclair
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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