The Netherlands got the result the needed to kick start their challenge for the 2010 World Cup title when they edged the Denmark national football team 2-0 in Monday’s Group E game.
Eljero Elia set up second goal
After a tight first half, the crucial breakthrough came moments after the break as Simon Poulsen tried to head a Robin van Persie cross clear only for the ball to strike Agger on the back and fly past a wrong-footed Thomas Sorensen in the Denmark goal.
At the time the goal was harsh on Denmark after Morten Olsen’s side matched the Dutch in the opening period, but they offered little having fallen behind and can have few complaints about the result.
The Dutch wrapped it up with five minutes left when lively substitute Eljero Elia raced on to a through ball and after his shot struck the post, Dirk Kuyt tapped in the rebound to add gloss to the score line.
But in truth, the ninth game of the tournament followed many of its predecessors as both teams struggled for any sort of fluency and neither could find any real attacking momentum in the Johannesburg sunshine.
Netherlands now top Group E with maximum points as they await the result of Cameroon and Japan who play later in the day.
See Results of matches so far played at FIFA 2010 World Cup
Netherlands 2-0 Denmark