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1/8 Final - Netherlands-Yugoslavia, Davids lifts Dutch to quarterfinals |
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Edgar Davids couldn't have picked a better moment to score his first goal for the Netherlands.
The midfielder's left-footed drive in the second minute of second-half stoppage time provided a 2-1 victory over Yugoslavia and sent the Dutch into the World Cup quarterfinals.
The victory came after the Netherlands weathered an early second-half goal by Yugoslavia and a penalty kick by Predrag Mijatovic's that crashed off the crossbar -- he called it "the worst moment in my career."
"When they missed their penalty, I thought 'Now us,' and it was -- in the last seconds," said striker Dennis Bergkamp, who scored the first Dutch goal in the 38th minute.
Davids, playing in his 15th international game, was only recalled to the Dutch lineup for this World Cup after being omitted for two years for insulting coach Guus Hiddink at the European Championship in 1996.
"I had some cramps in my leg and I had told Hiddink I had a problem," Davids said. "He told me to stay on the field and I put all of myself into the final shot, and I scored."
Argentina or England await the Netherlands in the next round.
"I would prefer Argentina," forward Ronald de Boer said. "I think us against Argentina would be a great game."
Hiddink said he had no preference.
"Both will be very dangerous," he said. "But we are very happy to be there and we have more ambitions."
After playing an ultra-defensive first half in which they conceded only Bergkamp's goal, the Yugoslavs came out quickly after the break and tied it in the 49th minute when Slobodan Komljenovic rose at the far post to head in a free kick by Dragan Stojkovic.
The goal stirred Yugoslavia and it began to move forward.
The pressure paid off almost immediately as Jaap Stam grabbed the shirt of Vladimir Yugovic as the two battled in the penalty area and Spanish referee Jose Garcia Aranda pointed to the penalty spot.
Mijatovic crashed his shot against the underside of the crossbar as Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dived to his right. The ball ricocheted into the ground and to safety.
"The Dutch goalie is tall, so I decide to shoot high and under the bar," Mijatovic said. "It didn't work. I'm sad for my teammates."
The Yugoslavs stuck to the game plan, which led to the chance to take the lead.
"In the first part of the game our strategy was to keep the Dutch down. Probably we were less cautious in the second half," Yugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac said.
The Netherlands finally broke down the determined Yugoslav defense in the 38th minute when Bergkamp took a long pass by Frank de Boer and held off Zoran Mirkovic to shoot under the dive of goalkeeper Ivica Kralj.
The goal gave Bergkamp a share of the Netherlands' all-time scoring lead with 35 in his 61 internationals. He equaled the record of Faas Wilkes in the 1940s and 1950s.
After Yugoslavia scored and Mijatovic missed the penalty kick, chances began to come fast, with the Netherlands having most of the opportunities.
Finally it was Davids who won it.
Hiddink said afterward he was prepared to substitute Davids if the match had gone into extra time.
"It was a happy non-decision to let him go until the end," he said.
