Sneijder 53

The Netherlands made it two wins out of two to qualify from Group E, thanks to Wesley Sneijder’s swerving strike overcoming a resolute Japanese outfit in Durban.

The goal broke a considerable deadlock as Japan packed their midfield and defence in search of a vital point.

Forced to chase the game after falling behind, Japan created chances but were exposed at the back. And Dutch substitute Ibrahim Afellay was twice denied by Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima as the game became stretched late on.

Neither side created a chance worthy of the name in a dull first half. But the Dutch were more purposeful after the interval. And they went ahead on 53 minutes, Sneijder’s 20-yard right-foot drive swerving in front of Kawashima, who could only parry it into the net.

The best of Japan’s chances fell to Shinji Okazaki on 89 minutes, but his left-foot shot narrowly cleared the crossbar.