Perfect Dutch blot Spain's record

The Netherlands maintained their 100 per cent record in Group 4 of 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying with a 2-1 victory over Spain.

Perfect records
Neither Spain nor the hosts had dropped a point, or even conceded a goal, in three and four games respectively prior to meeting in Rotterdam. The Netherlands led the group by virtue of having won a game more but now sit six points clear of their opponents and third-placed Poland. Spain started brightly but were breached for the first time on 14 minutes when Georginio Wijnaldum set up Sparta Rotterdam midfielder Erik Falkenburg to score in his home stadium.

Late pressure
The visitors again took the initiative after half-time but failed to make it tell as Adrián López's close-range header was adroitly saved by Tim Krul. As in the first half, the hosts duly capitalised and doubled their advantage on 63 minutes when Wijnaldum headed in a Joshua John cross. César Azpilicueta halved his side's arrears with ten minutes remaining before both Diego Capel and captain Javi Martínez were denied by the woodwork in a late Spanish surge. Spain, who had won their previous 14 group stage qualifiers stretching back to October 2005, and the Netherlands resume action in March, at home to Liechenstein and Poland respectively.