Russia, coming into the match the underdog, exited the pitch the winners, beating the previously undefeated Netherlands squad 3–1 in overtime.
The Dutch had outscored their opponents 9–1 in group play, and had dominated every game wityh their precision passing offense. But Russia had youth, and unmatchable energy, and stopped the Dutch kept off balance throughout the game.
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.
Overtime
The first overtime period was filled with excellent scoring opportunities for both sides, but neither team could capitalize.
Five minutes into the second overtime, Russian midfielder Dmitri Torbinski got called for his second yellow card, removing him from the next round of play, should Russia advance.
One minute later Torbinski redeemed himself by racing past defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst and tapping an Andrei Arshavin cross into the right side of the Dutch net.
Arshavin broke down the left side all the way to the corner, out maneuvered his man, and drove a cross that very nearly went into the net. Tarbinski had only to gently extend a foot to send it home, giving the Russian team a goal lead with only a few minutes left in the second overtime period.
The with four minutes left, Andrei Arshavin closed the door on the Dutch team, driving a shot between the legs of Dutch keep van der Sar.
With three minutes left the Dutch got another free kick, but this time Russia was ready, and Russian keeper Akinfeev came out to snatch the ball out of the air.
The Dutch did not surrender. They fought hard to keep the ball in the Russian end, earning another free kick with under a minute left, but the shot missed the net. The Russians brought the ball back, getting a free shot of their own, but at that point it didn't matter; The Netherlands team had no hope of scoring two goals in thirty seconds when it had taken them ninety minutes to score one.
The Russians, with their Dutch coach, triumphed, moving into semi-final play.
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