A dramatic extra time victory saw Russia knock out favourites Holland 3-1 to set up a semi-final against Spain or Italy. Roman Pavlyuchenko put them ahead and Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s header forced Russia into extra time, but the collapse of the Oranje armada was only delayed as Torbinski and Arshavin hit the back of the net.
Holland approached this game with confidence following their 100 per cent run in the group stages. Coach Marco Van Basten preferred Dirk Kuyt over Arjen Robben with Rafael Van der Vaart playing behind the lone striker. Robin Van Persie was also left out. Kalhid Boulharouz retained his place and the Dutch wore black armbands in remembrance of the defender’s baby daughter, who died earlier this week.
Holland native Guus Hiddink opted for only one change in his starting formation. Igor Semshov replaced Diniyar Bilyaletdinov while Sergei Ignashevich kept his place at the centre of the defence. Back in February 2007 Holland hammered Russia at 4-1 in a friendly game, but it was a completely different story this time around.
In the first few minutes of the game the Dutch seemed quite aware of the Russians’ threat and often played with 10 men behind the ball. Semshov couldn’t reach Andrei Arshavin’s long ball while on the opposite side Kuyt headed wide a cross from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.
Then Yuri Zhirkov’s free-kick from the left side of the penalty box was brilliantly deflected out for a corner by Edwin Van der Sar. Denis Kolodin tried from distance and Roman Pavlyuchenko went close with an header confirming that the Russians had the edge. Holland came out from their shell and kept possession, but the Russians had no trouble handling Van der Vaart’s free-kick and Wesley Sneijder’s effort.
The biggest chance for the Oranje came when Ruud Van Nistelrooy was brought down on the right side and from the following free-kick he missed the impact with the ball when he had no one in front of him. Arshavin on the counter attack cut inside the box and his shot on the far post was palmed away by the Dutch ‘keeper, who looked at his best tonight.
On 32 minutes Kolodin took another long distance shot but once again Van der Sar was superb to save it. Only 60 seconds later the centre-back tried again with another powerful attempt from about 35 metres, but was unlucky.
Van Nistelrooy controlled the ball in the box and his low shot was saved by Afinkeev. Kolodin gave the ball away too easily before the break and Van der Vaart’s effort was punched away by the ‘keeper. The teams ended the first half all square, but Russia were perhaps the better side.
Van Persie stepped in for Kuyt in the second half and took less than a minute to create an opening. Boulahrouz got himself booked for a nasty tackle on Arshavin and Van Basten preferred to replace him with Johnny Heitinga. Van Persie looked really active and ended up elbowing Ivan Saenko and saw yellow. Arshavin’s curled free-kick went inches wide but moments after Semak crossed the ball into the box from the left side and Pavlyuchenko clinically put the ball past Van der Sar – Russia were deservedly ahead.
Holland looked lost and dominated, Saenko’s left-foot effort could have closed the game but went wide. The Dutch were nervous, Van der Vaart was the third Oranje to be booked and Van Basten tried his last chance by putting in Sulley Afellay for Orlando Engelaar, in poor form tonight.
The Dutch created a chance from a corner kick – Igor Afinkeev missed the ball but Van Persie headed wide. However, De Jong saved them by anticipating Zyryanov who was trying to serve Pavlyuchenko inside the box.
Russia could have scored one of this Euros’ best goals with a triangular action between three of their men brought Aleksandr Anyukov in front of the net but his effort was ineffective. Then Arshavin’s cross went right across the penalty area but Saenko was to far behind the ball to tap in. Van Nistelrooy proved all his international experience by controlling the ball just outside the box and getting himself fouled by Kolodin, who got booked and will miss the next tie. Van Persie’s screamer was too high.
Sneijder and Van der Vaart tried from outside the box but their poor attempts were controlled by Afinkeev, on the break instead the blond Russian striker could have doubled their lead but was blocked by the Dutch ‘keeper. Sneijder took the leadership in midfield but Zhirkov could have sent them KO when his tap-in with Van der Sar on the floor was deflected by a defender.
Holland switched to a 3-4-3 formation desperate for an equaliser that came with less than five minutes to go with a fantastic header from Van Nistelrooy who caught the Russian defence napping on a free kick from Sneijder. Russia were rocking and Kolodin thought he had been sent off for a stupid tackle over the Real Madrid midfielder, but the ball had previously crossed the line so the referee had to withdraw his decision meaning the centre-back could play on.
The first half of extra time started at a good tempo. Pavlyuchenko could have scored a marvellous goal - his strike smashed into the bar. Another great chance came with Torbinski who received the ball from Arshavin after a fantastic run but couldn’t hit the back of the net. Arshavin looked inspired and his wonderful performance lived up to the hype. Russia were dominating at this stage, and Kolodin’s tremendous free-kick made the Dutch shiver.
Second half of the extra time and Russia should have been awarded a penalty. Zhirkov broke into the box and was brought down from behind by Heitinga – clear penalty but the referee waved to play on. Russia were all over the place, the ball crossed in the middle by from the left and Pavlyuchenko’s effort was off target. Holland finally crossed their half and Ignashevich could have headed it in behind his own ‘keeper, who was understandably furious.
Russia on the counter attack, Arshavin skipped past the slow Andrè Ooijer and his lobbed cross caught Van der Sar out of position – tap in from Torbinski and 2-1 for Russia. Holland looked tired and unable to recover while the Russian fans were chanting the names of their heroes. The Dutch defence was surprised by a throw in and it was easy for Arshavin to put the third behind Van der Sar.
Russia are in the semi-finals for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet Union and will be facing one out of Spain and Italy. No excuses for Holland, there was only one team on the pitch tonight – Russia.
Holland: Van der Sar; Boulahrouz (Heitinga 54), Oojer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Engelaar (Afellay 62); Kuyt (Van Persie 46), Van Der Vaart, Sneijder; Van Nistelrooy
Russia: Afinkeev; Anyukov, Ignatsevich, Kolodin, Zhirkov; Semak; Semshov (Bilyaletdinov 69), Zyrianov, Arshavin, Saenko (Torbinski 81); Pavlyuchenko (Sychev 114)
Ref: Michel (Svk)
Ref From channel4.com
