VS.
The opening 20 minutes of the 1st half were controlled by the Dutch as they moved the ball around but couldn't quite put together anything dangerous on Danish keeper Thomas Sørensen. Their best chance came in the 10th minute when forward Dirk Kuyt blasted shot from just outside the box right at Sørensen. The keeper had the ball bounce off his chest landing behind him but he was able to reel it in and hold on to it.

Denmark settled in after those first 20 minutes or so and exerted themselves producing the most dangerous goal scoring opportunities of the first half. In the 27th minute, forward Nicklas Bendtner's header attempt went just wide of the post. Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg made a big save on Denmark midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg when his shot was headed for the left corner but Stekelenburg saved to keep the game scoreless.

The 2nd half began with some bad luck for Denmark in the 46th minute. Danish defender Simon Poulsen tried to head away a cross from Dutch forward Robin Van Persie but the ball hit his Danish teammate Daniel Agger in the back and fell into the bottom corner of the goal, giving the Dutch an ugly 1-0 lead.
(REUTERS/Brian Snyder).

The Dutch controlled the match after that forcing Sørensen into a couple of tough save but the Danes couldn't keep the ball of the net for long as the ugliness of the first goal was trumped by the skill, determination, and movement of the 2nd goal.

In the 84th minute, Dutch #10 Wesley Sneijder played a beautiful through ball to teammate Eljero Elia into the box. Elia's shot was deflected by an on-rushing Sørensen but almost went in as it bounced off the far post. However, fellow Dutchman Dirk Kuyt was there to put the rebound into an empty net to give Netherlands the 2-0 lead and eventual victory.
(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

The Dutch almost scored a 3rd goal when second half substitute Ibrahim Afellay got to the end of a cross in the box, but the ball was cleared just before crossing the goal line by the man credited with the own goal, Danish defender Simon Poulsen. The Netherlands next face Japan on the 19th in Durban at Moses Mabhida Stadium while Denmark next opponent is Cameroon on the 19th in Tshwane/Pretoria at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Click here to the FIFA's official match report.