Netherlands 2-0 Chile: Fer and Depay dump Chile

THE Netherlands secured top spot in Group B after late goals from substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay steered them to a 2-0 victory over surprise package Chile.

Memphis Depay of the Netherlands celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Chile. Picture: Getty

Scorers: Netherlands - Depay (90), Fer (77)

Fer nodded home Darryl Janmaat’s cross in the 77th minute, less than two minutes after the Norwich midfielder had come on.

Depay then got his second goal in two matches, converting Arjen Robben’s tee-up from close-range in stoppage time.

Chile showed more attacking intent in the early stages, without truly threatening the Dutch goal.

Eduardo Vargas headed wide and Charles Aranguiz’s dangerous ball was cleared by Ron Vlaar before Alexis Sanchez delivered a corner to the feet of Felipe Gutierrez, who sent his shot off-target.

Holland’s first real attempt came in the 26th minute after Franciso Silva picked up a booking for a foul on Jeremain Lens, who was in as a replacement for the suspended Robin van Persie.

However, Wesley Sneijder’s free-kick was covered by keeper Claudio Bravo. Daley Blind made a sliding challenge in the Holland area on Aranguiz, prompting penalty calls, but play continued and the Dutch then went close as Stefan de Vrij sent Robben’s wonderfully-delivered free-kick wide with a diving header.

After another Chile penalty claim went unheeded – this time Sanchez appealing he had been pushed by Dirk Kuyt – Robben surged from the halfway line to the box before sending a shot across the face of Bravo’s goal. Chile then passed up their best opportunity as Gutierrez was presented with a free header from Marcelo Diaz’s free-kick but put it the wrong side of the post.

The match struggled to spark into life after the break before Sanchez outwitted Lens in the box and fired in a shot from a tight angle which Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen parried.

Kuyt headed a Robben corner wide with 15 minutes left before the Dutch made the breakthrough.

Robben’s corner was collected by Janmaat and his delivery came to Fer, who had the space to power a header past Bravo.

Chile were caught on the counter-attack in the last few seconds as the ball came to Robben and his pass was prodded in by Depay in the six-yard box.

Netherlands: Cillessen, Blind, Vlaar, De Vrij, Kuyt (Kongolo 89), De Jong, Wijnaldum,Janmaat,Sneijder (Fer 75),Lens (Depay 69), Robben.

Chile: Bravo, Silva (Valdivia 70), Medel, Jara, Isla, Aranguiz, Diaz, Mena, Gutierrez (Beausejour 46), Vargas (Pinilla 81), Alexis.