Brazil 2014: Late Controversial Penalty Gave Netherlands Victory Over Mexico
By Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Netherlands staged an astonishing comeback in the last minutes to rescue their World Cup dream and deny Mexico a first quarter-final in 28 years.
The Mexicans went ahead just after half-time through former Tottenham and Barcelona player, Giovani Dos Santos, who scored from 25 yards with a memorable strike.
Netherlands equalised in the 88th minute through a Wesley Sneijder strike from the edge of the penalty area with extra time beckoning, before Robben won Louis van Gaal’s side the controversial spot-kick that took them into the quarter-finals.
Substitute, Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in injury time after Arjen Robben was fouled by Mexico captain, Rafael Marquez.
When the final whistle went off at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Mexico’s players fell to the ground, unable to understand how the game had slipped away in Mexico’s sixth successive loss in the second round of the World Cup, dating back to 1994.
The Dutch now look forward to meeting Costa Rica or Greece in Salvador in the last eight.