Dutch back to winning ways in Slovenia

Giovanni van Bronckhorst scored only his fourth international goal as the Netherlands grabbed a 1-0 victory in Slovenia to extend their lead at the top of Group G to three points.

Late effort
The Oranje looked to be heading for the disappointment of a second goalless draw in four days until Van Bronckhorst struck with four minutes remaining. Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and debutant Ibrahim Afellay all went close while Wilfred Bouma saw an effort come back off the post, before the FC Barcelona defender finally broke the deadlock. His strike bore more than a hint of good fortune, the shot from 25 metres deflecting off two Slovenia players to leave Samir Handanovič helpless.

Slovenia threat
It was a cruel blow for the goalkeeper, who had kept the Netherlands at bay for so long in Celje. Handanovič denied Sneijder and Kuyt in a lively opening as the players seemed intent on matching the fireworks that had preceded the game. It was Slovenia who looked the more likely scorers, however, as led by playmaker Milenko Ačimovič they provided a constant threat on the counterattack, and only a fine recovery from Bouma denied Klemen Lavrič a clear shot at goal shortly after the half-hour.

Kuyt miss
Nevertheless, the visitors should have been ahead at the interval, as Kuyt bizarrely opted to square to Joris Mathijsen rather than shoot himself and his pass evaded the centre-back. It left coach Marco van Basten gazing to the heavens and he must have wondered what he had done wrong as the second half wore on. Bouma was frustrated by the woodwork, while Afellay and Arjen Robben both hit rasping drives just wide of the mark. At the other end, substitute Milivoje Novakovič was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Johnny Heitinga and it proved a crucial intervention, as Van Bronckhorst subsequently stole the points for the Dutch.