|
Kluivert ejection mars Dutch draw
Belgium staves off Netherlands attack in scoreless duel
Posted: Saturday June 13, 1998 05:24 PM
| |
Patrick Kluivert (left) was given a red card in the second half after elbowing a Belgian player (AP) |
ST. DENIS, France (AP) -- Patrick Kluivert was expelled for
elbowing Lorenzo Staelens in the chest as the Dutch squandered
their chances in a 0-0 World Cup draw with Belgium Saturday.
Kluivert, who had few opportunities, showed his frustration
eight minutes from time after a collision with Staelens. He walked
over towards the Belgian, wagging his finger, and elbowed him in
the chest.
Italian referee Pierluigi Collina didn't see the off the-ball
incident but consulted with his linesman while Staelens was on the ground and
didn't hesitate to show the AC Milan star the red card.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his second-half replacement, Dennis
Bergkamp, both fluffed easy opportunities as the Dutch dominated
but failed to get the ball past overworked Belgian goalkeeper Filip De
Wilde in the fourth World Cup confrontation in as many years
between the two neighbors.
The Belgians, who beat the Dutch 1-0 in the last finals in the
Unted States in 1994 but lost twice on 3-0 scorelines in
qualifying for this competition, were kept under pressure for most
of the game but managed to survive.
The Dutch should have taken the lead after only six minutes when
De Wilde could not hold onto a 25-yard shot from Ronald de Boer.
Hasselbaink had an empty goal to aim at from an acute angle but
hopelessly misplaced his shot and the Belgians cleared.
Bertrand Crasson, beaten repeatedly by Dutch winger Marc
Overmars down the flank, was replaced by Eric Deflandre after only
21 minutes as the Belgians tried to stop the flow of crosses into
the danger area.
Deflandre also had problems with the speedy Dutchman and was
shown the yellow card for a foul on Overmars within eight minutes
of taking the field.
A minute before the interval, the Belgians almost snatched the
lead when Danny Boffin crossed from the left but Marc Wilmots could
only connect with his chest instead of his head and goalkeeper Edwin
van der Sar was able to save.
The Dutch resumed applying pressure early in the second half and
De Wilde smothered a 25-yard shot from Clarence Seedorf two
seconds after blocking a fiercely struck angled shot from
Hasselbaink.
De Wilde was beaten when Kluivert climbed above the Belgian
defense to meet a corner b Ronald de Boer but Deflandre was well
placed to head off the line.
Forced to defend for long periods, the Belgians reminded the
Dutch they were still a force on the break and Luc Nilis was only
inches too high with a 25-yard floater in the 58th minute.
Bergkamp, sidelined for six weeks with hamstring problems,
entered the game as a substitute for Hasselbaink after 66 minutes and
coach Guus Hiddink sent on Boudewijn Zenden for Seedorf at the same
time to provide fresh legs and ideas.
Bergkamp had been on the field for eight minutes when he had a
golden chance to give his team the lead but volleyed wide from no
more than 10 yards with no one near him.
Jaap Stam, a defender who will play for Manchester United next
season, fired in a 30-yard shot that De Wilde couldn't hold onto
first time and Deflandre kicked the ball off the line from Phillip
Cocu.
Lineups
Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar; Aron Winter, Jaap Stam, Frank
de Boer, Arthur Numan; Clarence Seedorf (Boudewijn Zenden, 66th),
Ronald de Boer (Wim Jonk, 80th), Phillip Cocu, Marc Overmars;
Patrick Kluivert, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Dennis Bergkamp, 66th).
Belgium: Filip De Wilde; Bertrand Crasson (Eric Deflandre,
21st), Lorenzo Staelens, Mike Verstraeten, Vital Borkelmans; Franky
van der Elst, Philippe Clement, Marc Wilmots, Danny Boffin; Luc
Nilis, Luis Oliveira (LakondaMpenza, 60th).
Referee: Pierluigi Collina, Italy.
| 
