Van Nistelrooy on target in Dutch win in Armenia

Reuters, UK
Sept 3 2005

Sat Sep 3, 2005 8:36 PM BST

YEREVAN, Armenia, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Ruud van Nistelrooy notched his
23rd international goal to guide the Netherlands to a 1-0 win over
Armenia in their World Cup Group One qualifying match on Saturday.

The Dutch brought Arsenal’s Robin van Persie into the team in place
of injured Chelsea winger Arjen Robben (ankle).

Van Nistelrooy and Philip Cocu went close to putting the visitors in
front inside the first 10 minutes.

Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovski was forced to stretch to save a
free kick from Manchester United striker van Nistelrooy while Cocu
hit the side-netting after Berezovski dropped the ball.

Dirk Kuijt also came close to breaking the deadlock when his header
was stopped by Berezovski.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten realised that physical power was needed
up front to penetrate the Armenian wall of defence and brought on
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 61st minute.

Two minutes later Vennegoor of Hesselink set up van Nistelrooy,
who had his back to goal before he turned to score.

Netherlands, who stayed top of the group with 25 points from nine
matches, play hosts to Andorra on Wednesday.

Armenia are bottom with four points from 10 games.

“We played a very poor first half and hardly got any better after
the break” said van Basten, who remained unbeaten in his 13th match
as national coach.

“Everything went wrong…sloppy passing and poor control over the
ball…and we did not manage to improve that,” he told reporters.

“I hoped by bringing on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink to change something
and it felt good when it worked just minutes after he came on.

“These sorts of matches will always be there, you really want play
your game but whatever you try nothing works out.”