Netherlands pound Chile 2 – 0 to top Group B

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The Dutch national team finished top of Group B after goals from Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay gave them a win over Chile in a tempestuous encounter in Sao Paulo.

Both teams had already qualified for the second round after starting with wins over Spain and Australia.

Norwich City man Fer headed in with his first touch in the 77th minute, before Depay tapped home in stoppage time.

Chile are now likely to face Brazil in the last 16, with Louis van Gaal’s side set to face either Mexico or Croatia.

Monday’s meeting in Sao Paulo had failed to live up to expectations given the four previous games involving the two teams had seen 17 goals.

The Dutch were missing the suspended Robin van Persie, while Chile rested midfielder Arturo Vidal and their absence was keenly felt as the game reached the interval with neither keeper having been forced into a save.

Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez looked most likely to force an opener for the South Americans with his clever movement and eye for a pass causing Van Gaal’s backline concerns on a number of occasions.

For the Netherlands Arjen Robben went close to continuing his record of having scored in every match when another trademark long run ended with him dragging a low effort just wide.

The first half’s only other moments of note owed more to the two teams’ physical approach, with the flow of the game interrupted by numerous niggling fouls.

It took until the 65th minute for the first real save of the game, Jasper Cillessen forced to beat away Sanchez’s effort at his near post.

That sparked a response from the Dutch as Robben fired straight at Claudio Bravo in the Chile goal after a positive run at their defence.

Depay then brought a good save from the keeper with a powerful shot from range. From the resultant corner the Oranje worked the ball back to Daryl Janmaat and his deep cross was met by the head of the unmarked Fer, who had been introduced just moments earlier.

With Jorge Sampaoli’s side needing a win to finish top of the group they pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to fashion a clear chance and Depay wrapped up the win in the dying seconds when he converted Robben’s low cross on the breakaway.

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