June 21, 2008: The Russians stunned the Netherlands in today’s Euro 2008 quarterfinal match to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. Russia scored a 3-1 win on the Dutch in the 3rd quarterfinal match of Euro Cup 2008 between Russia and the Netherlands. Russia scored two winning goals in the extra time of the match. The scorers for Russia were Pavlyuchenko, Torbinskiy and Arshavin while Van Nistelrooy scored for the Dutch.
In the 56th minute Pavlyuchenko opened the score sheet for the Russians. Sergei Semak found space in the midfield to send a low cross into the penalty area. Pavlyuchenko followed the cross and beat Mathijsen to net the ball.
Russia was nearing an entry into the semifinal by the solitary goal win when Nistelrooy scored a header in the 86th minute of the game. Russia had taken many aims at the goal but the Dutch goalkeeper Van der Sar was always a barrier for the Russian strikers.
Torbinskiy moved toward the far crossbar in the 112th minute of the play and hit a deep cross from Arshavin into the net with the outside of the left foot. Within 4 minutes Arshavin himself netted the 3rd goal for the Russians and sealed the fate for the Dutch.
Russians were the underdogs before the start of the match. But as the game progressed their coach Hiddink’s tactics and their youth proved them superior over the Netherlands. With this loss, the 37-year old Van der Sar ended his international football career for the Netherlands.
Final Score Russia-Netherlands Match June 21
Russia 3-1 Netherlands
Goals: 4
Teams:-
Russia: Igor Akinfeyev, Alexander Anyukov, Sergei Ignashevich, Denis Kolodin, Yuri Zhirkov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Igor Semshov (Bilyaletdinov 69 minutes), Sergei Semak, Pavlyuchenko (Cmitry Sychev 115 minutes), Arshavin, Sayenko (Torbinskiy 81 minutes)
Netherlands: Van der Sar, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mathijsen, Boulahrouz (Heitinga 54 minutes), Van Bronckhorst, De Jong, Engelaar (Afellay 62 minutes), Kuyt (Van Persie 46 minutes), Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy
