Last Minute Goals Create World Cup Drama

Last Minute Goals Create World Cup Drama

Last Minute Goals Create World Cup Drama

📅30 June 2014, 09:00

Both of last night’s Round of 16 matches were packed full of drama and went right down to the last minute before the winners were decided. The evening began with the Netherlands playing Mexico.

Mexico took the lead just after half-time thanks to Giovani Dos Santos who scored from 25 yards with an excellent strike. The Dutch fought back hard and managed to equalise in the 88th minute thanks to an excellent shot from the edge of the penalty area from Wesley Sneijder. The game looked set to go into extra time and even penalties, but then disaster struck for the Mexicans. In the final minute of the game Arjen Robben ran into the right-hand side of the penalty area, Rafael Marquez stuck out a foot and Robben went to the ground for a penalty. Substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar, despite missing three previous penalties at the World Cup, then hit the ball home to leave the Mexicans devastated and the Netherlands comeback complete.

Soon afterwards Costa Rica and Greece began their game. Bryan Ruiz opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a precise side-foot shot into the corner of the goal. The team then lost Oscar Duarte after he brought down Holebas to pick up a second yellow card. Despite the game opening up, neither side was able to create a clear opening until the final minute of the game when Papastathopoulos found the back of the net with a shot from inside the box. The Greeks had two further chances to win the match, in regular time and in extra time, however, Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas made excellent saves to see the match come down to penalties. Costa Rica knocked in all five of its penalties while Navas once again thwarted Greece’s dreams by saving the fourth penalty attempt. The results mean that the Netherlands and Costa Rica will face each other in the quarter-finals on Saturday, 5th July in Salvador.

Results

Upcoming Round of 16 Matches

Netherlands vs. Costa Rica, Saturday, 5 July 2014 Match Preview