Goals from Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay gave the Netherlands victory over Chile and ensured the Dutch top World Cup Group B.
Fer scored in the final 15 minutes of what was a turgid affair, netting with his almost first touch after replacing Wesley Sneijder. The Norwich midfielder met a deep cross after Arjen Robben’s short corner with a powerful header and Chile couldn’t reply.
Depay netted on the break as the game entered injury time after Robben led a counter-attack and squared the ball for his young colleague to convert from close range.
Louis van Gaal raised eyebrows by naming Dirk Kuyt as a left-sided wing-back, while also had to contend with the suspension-enforced loss of captain Robin van Persie. Jeremain Lens replaced the Manchester United man.
Jorge Sampaoli was able to keep faith with most of his first-choice XI, resting Arturo Vidal but sticking with the likes of the Spain-based Claudio Bravo, Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sanchez.
The first half was the kind of game that is often, euphemistically, described as cagey. A draw is enough for the Netherlands to top the group and on their first half showing, they knew it.
It’s not an exaggeration to suggest the highlight of the match early going was the anthems prior to kick-off, particularly the resounding rendition from Chile’s fans and players.
A set-piece routine was the first on-field incident worth getting excited about as Felipe Gutierrez blazed over after being found in space from a corner, half-way through the first-half. Gutierrez also had a headed chance that looped over.
Chile were doing most of the running but a combination of a deep Dutch defence and a poor final ball meant chances were extremely rare. When the Netherlands did press higher up the pitch and turned the ball over they caused problems, but those occasions were only seldom.
Robben put some life into proceedings by picking up the ball inside his own half, shrugging off the defenders and bursting forward, but the winger’s shot crept wide after Claudio Bravo narrowed the angle.
The second half followed much of the pattern of the first – fouls, free-kicks, pressing and no real chances. Packed midfields encouraged long balls and resolute defences dealt with them easily.
Temperatures frayed when Daley Blind was cautioned for going through the back of Alexis and it almost spurred the game into life. The resulting free-kick was long but Alexis made something of it, quick feet evading a defender and a powerful shot drawing a save from Jasper Cillessen. Robben tested Bravo immediately after.
A Kuyt header gave Bravo a scare but the ball, from Robben’s corner, but the ball flashed well wide of the posts. Bravo was more exercised by Memphis Depay’s long-range drive, the Real Sociedad goalkeeper tipping over the bar.
Bravo had no chance from the resulting corner when Fer found space and thumped a header into the corner of the goal.
Chilean penalty appeals after a risky Nigel de Jong challenge and a clumsy Kuyt attempt to win the ball when unanswered as the South Americans blustered for an equaliser.
Instead it was Depay who added to the scoring as the Dutch preserved their unbeaten record.
Netherlands 2-0 Chile
Fer 78, Depay 90+1
Netherlands: Cillessen; Janmaat, De Vrij, Vlaar, Blind, Kuyt (Kongolo 89); De Jong, Wijnaldum, Sneijder (Fer 76); Lens (Depay 69), Robben
Chile: Bravo; Silva (Valdivia 71), Medel, Jara; Isla, Diaz, Mena, Aranguiz; Sanchez, Vargas (Pinilla 81), Gutierrez (Beausejour 46)
