Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Salvador: The Netherlands put in five-star display to come from a goal down and hammer FIFA World Cup holders Spain 5-1 in a rematch of the 2010 final as La Roja suffered their heaviest defeat since losing 6-2 to Scotland in Madrid back in 1963.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup final ended with a 1-0 Spain victory after extra time and few would have been surprised if Friday's eagerly anticipated encounter at the Arena Fonte Nova was an equally cagey affair.
But after Spain had taken a 27th minute lead through a Xavi Alonso penalty, awarded after Stefan de Vrij had tripped Brazil-born striker Diego Costa, the Dutch turned on the style and scored five without reply.
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie looped a header over Iker Casillas as the Dutch drew level a minute from the interval before Arjen Robben's deflected effort eight minutes into the second half turned the tide of the match in the Oranje's favour.
De Vrij atoned for his earlier transgression when he bundled the ball home at the far post following Wesley Schneider's 64th minute free kick and after Van Persie capitalised on a Casillas error to make it 4-1 in the 72nd minute, Robben capped the Dutch win with his second and the Netherland's fifth with ten minutes of the match to play.
Photo: AFP