Game # 18 - Australia vs Netherlands

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The result certainly wasn't a surprise (Netherlands won) but the margin was (3-2). After Robben turned his first goal off such a classic (even predictable) run, I was afraid that Australia would be overrun. Instead, just a minute later, Tim Cahill scored the goal of the tournament so far. For the rest of the first half, Australia were clearly the better team and made all the play. Eye-catching was Mathew Leckie in particular - and I have never even heard of him before this tournament. Stunningly, Australia went ahead in the early part of the second half - from a penalty but I would be the first to admit that it was a very soft one. The Dutch finally got going and van Persie equalized (who else?) and finally Depay scored the winner, beating Ryan (the Australian goalkeeper having had a great game up to this point.) Great game and, even though the Socceroos now teeter on the edge of elimination, their reputation is fine.