World Cup Group B Australia 2-3 Holland FT Robben 20, van Persie 58, Depay 68 Cahill 21, Jedinak 54 pen Another cracking game saw Holland come from behind to finally see of Australia 3-2 after the Socceroos had controlled the game for long periods, but individual errors cost them a second defeat of the competition.
Australia had been unbeaten in their previous three encounters with the Dutch, but as the lowest ranked nation at the World Cup and considering Holland's emphatic victory over Spain the result seemed a forgone conclusion.
Certainly some of the Dutch players had a casual air about them which the Socceroos were quick to exploit, with a fearless approach which should have been rewarded with a win.
But with the score at 2-2 a couple of incidents decided their fate. A goalkeeping mistake which gave the Dutch their winner whilst at the other end the Aussies should have been celebrating going in front themselves but for a bad miss.
Holland are now unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup group games but how they made hard work to retain that record.
Arjen Robben with his third goal of the tournament gave Holland the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute, but Australia deservedly levelled a minute later with the goal of the tournament so far; Tim Cahill hit a brilliant dipping volley into the net of the underside of the crossbar.
The second half had a familiar pattern with the Aussies calm and composed and the Dutch struggling to find any rhythm. So it was no surprise when the Antipodeans finally went ahead, albeit with the aid of a disputed penalty.
Daryl Janmaat was adjudged to have handled the ball at close range and whilst the Dutch protested Mile Jedinak kept his nerve to send keeper Cillessen the wrong way and send 15,000 travelling Socceroo supporters into raptures.
But a lack of experience meant the lead lasted just four minutes and a failure of the defence to clear the ball saw Robin van Persie pounce to rifle home from ten yards and restore parity.
Then luck deserted the underdogs. Matthew Leckie had a wonderful opportunity to regain the lead for Australia but contrived to miss an open goal. Within 60 seconds the Aussie dream had been shattered when keeper Mat Ryan let a speculative long range effort from substitute Memphis Depay squirm out of his grasp and over the line.
In the remaining 22 minutes Australia gamely battled on but Holland were not for surrendering their lead again and whilst the Aussies created the odd half-chance the Dutch held out for a fortunate victory.
