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Group E - Netherlands-South Korea, Dutch treat fans to 5-0 romp |
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The Dutch found their famed fluent passing skills and regained their finishing touch Saturday to humble South Korea 5-0, sending the Koreans out of the World Cup.
Dennis Bergkamp, starting his first match since April, scored a brilliant individual goal, marking his return to full fitness by turning around two defenders in the 71st minute and firing past overmatched goalkeeper Byung-ji Kim with the outside of his right boot.
Five Dutch players scored as the Netherlands tore South Korea apart in the second half after going into halftime ahead 2-0.
"With the quality players we have, you know you can score a lot," Bergkamp said. "Once you have scored the first goal, you know you can get more."
The result lifted the Netherlands to the top of Group E and left it needing just a draw with Mexico to move into the next round.
Makeshift striker Phillip Cocu got a classy goal, and new midfielders Edgar Davids and Wim Jonk constantly worried the South Koreans in the reshuffled Dutch lineup.
"I am delighted because of the result," Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said. "We knew playing like this, sooner or later we would score the first goal."
The speedy South Koreans caused a few first-half problems for the Dutch defense with slick passing combinations. But the Netherlands always had the upper hand and took the lead in the 37th minute when Cocu took a Bergkamp pass into space and fired a searing left-footed drive low past Kim in the Korean goal.
Cocu was only promoted to the striker's role because of Patrick Kluivert's two-match suspension for elbowing Belgium's Lorenzo Staelens in the Netherlands' 0-0 tie with Belgium.
But the midfielder looked natural up front as he constantly caused problems for South Korea with darting diagonal runs.
"I was very happy with the first goal by Phillip Cocu," Hiddink said. "I knew he could play on the spot where I put him."
The Netherlands made it 2-0 in the 41st minute when Jonk deftly controlled a loose ball and turned defense into attack. Jonk fed Marc Overmars, who cut inside from the left wing and sent a right-footed shot past Kim.
"I feel the Netherlands were invincible tonight," South Korean coach Cha Bum-kun said. "They kept the ball in the second half and scored excellent goals.
"The Dutch are a very strong team and if they continue playing like they did tonight, I believe they can win the final."
After Bergkamp scored, Hiddink replaced him in the 78th minute with Pierre van Hooydonk, who scored within a minute of coming on, heading in Overmars's cross from close range.
Ronald de Boer rounded off the rout in the 83rd minute, taking Jonk's pass, beating two defenders and shooting powerfully past Kim.
"It is always good not to have to depend on one player to make the goal," Hiddink said.
