FIFA World Cup 2014: Netherlands butcher Spain 5-1 to cause a mighty upset

Robin van Persie of the Netherlands celebrates with head coach Louis van Gaal after scoring the teams first goal against Spain.

The east coast city of Salvador in Brazil was treated to a Dutch master class inside a disappointingly empty Fonte Nova. Netherlands, beaten 0-1 in the final of the previous World Cup, produced an absolute screamer to come from behind and ambush the world champions. The Dutch brought the World Cup 2014 alive with a staggering effort to destroy Spain 5-1 and begin their current campaign by extracting a measure of revenge over their nemesis from the last edition. It was a game for the ages, especially one that neither the Dutch nor Spanish will forget in a hurry.

Netherlands looked out of character in their dark blue kit, but made up for it through some solid early defiance as the defending champions pushed hard and fast in the early stages of the game. The first real opportunity though, was wasted by the Dutch, Wesley Sneijder the culprit.

Arjen Robben had sliced the Spanish defenses open with a beautifully crafted pass. Sneijder did well to run it down to the box, to discover that only Iker Casillas was standing between him and the goal. The Dutch midfielder made a meal of it though, striking right into Casillas, who made an easy save to keep the sheet clean.

Energised by the reprieve, the Spanish frontline combined forces to establish a pattern of dominance that started to threaten their opponents. Andres Iniesta and David Silva were penetrating from the left and the burly Diego Costa was finally beginning to make an impact. It took all of the youthful energy of Ron Vlaar and the back line to hold off the constant threat.

The action was turning very physical though and the referee let play progress despite a couple of rough challenges. The Spaniards won free kick after free kick, but failed to make the advantage count. Sergio Ramos came the closest, missing a 23rd minute opportunity. The referee had seen enough when Jonathan de Guzman fouled in the 25th to collect the first yellow of the game.

A couple of minutes later the serenity of a goalless card was disrupted in a sudden moment of carelessness from Stefan de-Vrij, who left his leg sliding on the floor to hinder Costa just enough for Nicola Rizzoli, the referee, to point to the dreaded spot. Xabi Alonso shot a perfect penalty past a diving Jasper Cillessen, whose dive was only enough to give him a close glimpse of the ball as it sank sharply into the left corner.

The game burst to life in the 44th minute, when Robin van Persie produced a headed masterpiece that shall be remembered for long. Daley Blind was unmarked on the left, with enough space to deliver a hoisted cross that sailed over Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. The Manchester United star collected the ball, 15 yards out and quickly noticed that Casillas was too far out from his post.

The Dutch star leapt into flight like a bird to deliver a cleverly lobbed header over a stranded Casillas. The equaliser brought to life the many spots of orange that dotted the Arena Fonte Nova. Even as the fans erupted from their seats, van Persie raced straight at a waiting Louis van Gaal, to celebrate the brilliant goal with a thundering clap of the palms.

Soon as they came back out from the break, Iniesta pushed one at the goal but an alert Cillessen dove low and wide to make a wonderful save. Just moments later, Arjen Robben opened up the game for the Dutch with some crafty work in front of goal. Collecting a van Persie pass in the 53rd minute, high on his left foot, Robben used his right to cut inside Pique before driving into the lead with a lashed effort into the net with his powerful left foot.

Less than ten minutes later, van Persie threatened to take it away farther, but the woodwork saved the blushes for the floundering Spanish. Vicente del Bosque was glistening with beads of concern and changes had to be made to give Spain a chance to regain a scent of the slipping game. Fernando Torres and Pedro were brought in for Diego Costa and Xabi Alonso in the 62nd minute, even as Georginio Wijnaldum walked in for de Guzman.

A couple of minutes later, the Dutch had a free kick from the far left. Casillas flapped at the ball in vein as he competed with a jumping van Persie and Centre-half de Vrij was the beneficiary. The man who had surrendered that penalty to Spain took his opportunity in the clumsiest manner possible, but managed to get the ball past the line for his first international goal.

David Silva helped a Pedro header past the line, but he was ruled offside to deny a second goal for a scrambling Spain. In the 72nd minute, Casillas made an elementary error, taking a far too casual swipe at a back-pass to loose control of the ball. Robin van Persie was around and he pounced just in time to slide the ball into the net.

The massacre was complete when Robben toyed around a fumbling Casillas and a helpless Ramos to slot in the fifth goal for an elated Dutch bench and their Oranje supporters around the world. Of course there were some ten odd minutes left to play, but the Spanish were a complete mess, each face a portrait of pain and grief long before the final whistle.

Incredibly, this was the biggest defeat for a defending champion in an opening game and Spain’s biggest defeat since their 2-6 defeat to Scotland in 1963. The result throws open Group B to a variety of possibilities, with Spain needing victories over Australia and Chile to avoid any further embarrassment.

Netherlands will be a delighted bunch, knowing that a victory over Australia and a draw against Chile might be enough to help them rule this group.

Goals:

Spain: Xabi Alonso 27’ Penalty

Netherlands: van Persie (44', 72'), Robben (53', 80'), de Vrij (64')

Spain XI: Casillas, Alba, Pique, Ramos, Azpilicueta, Xabi Alonso, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Silva, Costa

Netherlands XI: Cillessen, Blind, Martins Indi, De Vrij, Vlaar, Janmaat, De Guzman, De Jong, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie