Dutch squeeze past plucky Armenia

CNN International
Sept 3 2005

Saturday, September 3, 2005 Posted: 2049 GMT (0449 HKT)

Van Nistelrooy celebrates the goal that boosted hopes of automatic
qualificationLONDON, England — Ruud van Nistelrooy spared Dutch
blushes with a second half goal to see off minnows Armenia on Saturday
to stay top of the tough European Group One of World Cup qualfying.

Van Nistelrooy chested down Hedwiges Maduro’s pass from the right in
the 64th minute and hit the target into the right corner.

Romania’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic also boosted Dutch hopes
of automatic qualification.

The Netherlands have 25 points from nine matches, three ahead of
Romania who have played two games more. The Czechs have 21 from
nine matches.

Juventus striker Adrian Mutu, who scored twice against Andorra last
month, netted Romania’s first in the 26th minute from Razvan Rat’s
cross.

The former Chelsea striker, sacked by the Premier League champions
after failing a drugs test, added a second 20 minutes into the
second half.

Jan Koller hit the post for the visitors after the break, but the
Czechs were well beaten.

Earlier, the Netherlands made heavy weather of winning in Yerevan
after dominating the first half.

Phillip Cocu almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he
stole the ball from a defender. His shot from just inside the box
shaved the right post.

Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky made several saves to keep his
goal untouched in the first half.

He fisted away a van Nistelrooy shot, reached Cocu’s header off
Nistelrooy’s cross from the left, and stopped Nistelrooy’s drive from
20 meters.

“I’m satisfied with the result, but not with the way we played,”
said Dutch coach Marco van Basten. “Armenia played well in defense
and we could not find free space ahead.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress