An individual goal by winger Arjen Robben helped Netherlands into the quarter-finals of the World Cup as he set them on the way to a 2-1 victory over Slovakia on Monday.
Robben struck in the 18th minute when he ran on to a long through ball from Wesley Sneijder, turned and slammed in a left-footed shot past Jan Mucha in the Slovak goal. Sneijder added a second after a pass from Dirk Kuyt in the 84th.
It was the first start of the tournament and the first goal for Robben, who came to the finals carrying a hamstring injury.
Slovakia grabbed a late consolation goal through a Robert Vittek penalty with the last kick of the match. The Dutch will play the winners of the second round game between Brazil and Chile later on Monday in the quarter-finals.
Line-Ups:
Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg, Joris Mathijsen, John Heitinga, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Gregory Van Der Wiel, Nigel De Jong, Mark Van Bommel, Wesley Sneijder (Ibrahim Afellay 90'), Arjen Robben (Eljero Elia 70'), Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie (Klas Jan Huntelaar 80')
Slovakia: Jan Mucha, Jan Durica, Martin Skrtle, Radoslav Zabavnik (Martin Jakubko 86'), Peter Pekarik, Marek Hamsik (Marek Spara 86'), Juraj Kucka, Erik Jendrisek (Kamil Kopunek 71'), Miroslav Stoch, Vladimir Weiss, Robert Vittek
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