Dour Dutch go through on penalties

Sweden 0 Holland 0 (Holland win 5-4 on penalties)

Arjen Robben was Holland’s penalty shoot-out hero as he netted the decisive spot-kick which put his country through to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.

The Chelsea-bound winger calmly slotted home after Sweden captain Olof Mellberg had seen his effort – the first of sudden-death – saved by Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

It was the second quarter-final to be decided on penalties after hosts Portugal progressed against England in the first match among the last eight on Thursday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been the first to miss with Sweden’s third penalty to hand Holland the advantage but Phillip Cocu hit the post with the Oranjemen’s fourth and, still level at 4-4, after 120 goalless minutes, it went to sudden death.

Holland had showed more confidence in the opening stages and in the ninth minute Robben was the first to test Andreas Isaksson with a powerful strike from the edge of the area which forced the goalkeeper into a one-handed save.

Five minutes later the Dutch had a second opportunity but Clarence Seedorf’s 25-yard free-kick was straight at the goalkeeper.

Holland continued to surge forward and with 17 minutes played Mellberg made a vital block following Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s shot on target from inside the box.

Sweden had their first shot in the 24th minute but Henrik Larsson’s free-kick did not trouble goalkeeper Van der Sar as the shot went wide.

Three minutes later Holland were back on the attack with Van Nistelrooy feeding Michael Reiziger whose first-touch strike went inches wide of Isaksson’s left-hand post.

Cocu tried his luck from distance and his powerful, bouncing shot surprised the goalkeeper who punched the ball away from danger.

Holland were forced to make their first substitution after 34th minutes played, an injured Frank De Boer unable to continue and Wilfred Bouma taking his place in central defence – with Cocu handed the captain’s armband.

Holland showed no intention of slowing down after the break and could have taken the lead.

Van Nistelrooy latched on to Robben’s precise cross from the right but his close-range header went over the crossbar.

Sweden had the best opportunity of the game on 56 minutes when Cocu was forced to clear off the line following Ibrahimovic’s shot on target.

Defender Jaap Stam had slipped inside the area, allowing the unmarked Ajax forward a clear shot – the Dutch goalkeeper out of the picture having come off his line in an attempt to clear the previous cross.

Just after the hour, Advocaat made his second substitution – right-back Johnny Heitinga replacing midfielder Edgar Davids.

Van Nistelrooy then chested down a long pass and Isaksson was forced to come off his line to meet the striker, whose attempt glanced off the goalkeeper and rolled past the right post.

In the 74th minute Freddie Ljungberg showed his formidable skills, after controlling a powerful cross from Anders Svensson but his close-range shot went wide.

With four minutes left Dutch forward Roy Makaay replaced Andy Van der Meyde as coach Dick Advocaat attempted to give his side more power in attack.

Holland were desperately looking for the late goal and nearly got it after Van Nistelrooy latched onto a fantastic cross from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst but his header went high.

Makaay’s shot from the distance went over of Isaksson’s goal, which was Holland’s last opportunity before the referee called an end to normal time.

Inside the first minute of extra-time Van Nistelrooy’s left-footed shot went well wide and two minutes later Robben could have given Holland the lead from outside the penalty area.

The Swedish goalkeeper went down on one knee but the ball glanced off his arm and crossed in front of goal before hitting the left post.

With 10 minutes played Isaksson made up for his earlier error by making a formidable save from Seedorf’s powerful strike.

Sweden had their first opportunity just before the break but substitute Kim Kallstrom’s free-kick was way off target.

Seconds later the same player should have scored but his shot inside the box after a formidable run from the right hit the side-netting.

The second period of extra-time could still not produce a winner and the match went to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.