The powerhouse Netherlands squad, which has dominated every game it has played so far, was favored to defeat the upstart Russians, with their Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink.
The Russians are young and energetic, and certainly riding high after defeating Sweden 2–0. But the Netherlands team is undefeated in the tournament, having outscored their opponents 9–1.
While the Dutch goal-scoring ability is proven, the Dutch team's defense is a bit suspect. No team has yet been able to press on the Dutch defense because the offense controlled the ball. The question was whether the Dutch team's offensive precision could match the Russians' youth and speed.
Russia had the better scoring chances in the opening minutes, but neither team was able to maintain an advantage. Both teams appeared to be in top form, passing crisply and playing patiently. While Russia got a few hard shots on net, Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar handled them all. Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev, coming off an excellent performance against Sweden, was not seriously tested.
Russia seemed to gain a slight edge in possession around the twenty-minute mark. The Netherlands team couldn't clear easily, but managed to keep the Russia from setting up a shot. Russia kept the pressure on, finally getting a free kick, but Midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov couldn't convert.
At 28 minutes Netherlands got a fantastic opportunity on a free kick. It was perfect shot, right across the crease, but two Dutch players—and Ruud van Nistelrooy—failed to get a touch.
The Russians immediately counterattacked Arshavyn beat his man and stretched Dutch keeper van der Sar to the maximum to keep the ball out of the net. Then Denis Kolodin took a pair of blistering shots from thirty yards out, testing van der Sar both times.
The Dutch team, which had used offensive pressure to control all its prior games in the tournament, couldn't set up its passing game, and couldn't stop the Russians. The Dutch defense showed its worth, but the Dutch offense seemed not to have come to the stadium.
At forty minutes the Netherlands got another free kick and once again laid a perfect ball into the crease, which van Nistelrooy couldn't quite reach. Defense against set pieces was the only real defensive weakness the Russians had shown.
Tied After Ninety Minutes
The Dutch coach brought in high-scoring forward Robin van Persie to try to spark the Dutch offense.
At 48 minutes, the Dutch nearly converted on yet another set piece off a free kick; Nigel de Jongand got behind the Russian defense but couldn't guide the ball in.
The game opened up a bit in the opening minutes of the second half, with more end-to-end play.
At 55 minutes, Russian midfielder Sergei Semak broke free down the left wing off a lead pass from Andrei Arshavin, and laid a perfect ball across the goal. Forward Roman Pavlyuchenko was perfectly positioned to reach past Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen to drive a low shot into the left side of the net.
The Dutch responded with increased intensity but the Russian defense proved equal to the challenge. The Dutch were starting to look like the team which had manhandled all its opponents with offensive pressure, but the Russians were playing like a team which had no intention of giving up a shot, let alone a goal.
At 70 minutes, Denis Kolodin got called for a yellow card putting him out for the next match, but also giving Netherlands a free kick from the center of the penalty area line. Van Persie missed the shot, hitting it well over the Russian net.
As the Netherlands team pressed harder on offense, they left more space behind them. The Russian teams' speed allowed them to capitalize, getting several near-chances on long clearing passes.
With less than five minutes less in regulation play, Russia paid the price for its poor defense on set pieces, Ruud van Nistelrooy got free behind his defender on a free kick by Wesley Sneijder, and headed the ball past Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev, tying the game at one.
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