Perfect Netherlands aim for more in Moldova
domingo, 12 de setembro de 2010
Sumário do artigo
The Netherlands will aim to prolong their perfect start to Group E when they take on a Moldova team who have taken three points from their opening two matches.
Conteúdo media do artigo
Corpo do artigo
The Netherlands head to Moldova for only their third meeting with their Group E rivals, knowing they can expect no favours from the former Soviet republic in the chase for top spot in their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying section.
Match background
• Moldova's record in two games against the Netherlands reads W0 D0 L2 (W0 D0 L1 at home).
• The two nations have been pooled together once before, in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004, when they met for the first time in Tiraspol on 2 April 2003. Midfielder Vadim Boret gave the hosts a 16th-minute lead, and although Ruud van Nistelrooy then equalised before the break, it took until five minutes from time for Mark van Bommel to earn the Oranje a 2-1 triumph.
• The return fixture was contested in Eindhoven on 11 October the same year, three days shy of precisely seven years ahead of their upcoming meeting. It proved more of a breeze for Dick Advocaat's side, with Patrick Kluivert, Wesley Sneijder, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben on target in a 5-0 win.
• Sneijder and Robben registered their first competitive goals at senior international level in that encounter, while Van der Vaart hit his third.
