This, The Best Match!

The match between Netherlands and Australia was, to put it mildly, a cracker of a match.

Perhaps the Dutch were a little hung-over from too much celebration after the beating they administered the Spanish, or perhaps Australia's game was elevated enormously due to fear of going out if they lose this one, or both, but there were many twists and turns in this match.

No sooner than the very next attack, after a Robben lightning-quick incursion into the Australian penalty area resulting in the first goal of the match, the Australians struck back. And Tim Cahill's goal was, I would say, the most spectacular goal scored thus far at this World Cup. A perfect volley, which struck the underside of the bar, and then went in for the equalizer.

After half-time, the Aussies made it 2, through Mile Jedinak, when they were given a dubious, to say the least, penalty for supposed handball by defender Janmaat.
Yet another case of a European team being tormented by FIFA referees, this time Algerian Djamel Haimoudi and his team.

But Holland was just too good.

And Australia tried to take the easy way out, played the offside trap against Depay and van Persie, and lost right away. Not later than four minutes after Jedinak's PK, the Man. U. forward found himself with a clear goal-scoring opportunity and took it emphatically. It was tied again.

Maybe both teams would have settled for the tie. Maybe. Just maybe.
But PSV's Memphis Depay was the only guy who actually did something big to win the tie.

In the 68th minute, with a little bit of space, 20-year-old Depay took initiative, and struck an extremely powerful ball, from probably over 25 metres, which stopped in the net, on Ryan's left side.

And neither team could muster any additional goals after that.

Australia will be out, unless Spain beats Chile. (Their only chance is to have three teams on three points, and for them to beat Spain in the last match.)
Netherlands will be in the last 16, with a match to spare, if Spain fails to beat Chile. (In such a case, neither Spain nor Australia could catch up with Netherlands' points total, no matter what they do.)

Highlights from this spectacular match:

[HD] Australia vs. Netherlands 2 - 3