FORTALEZA – Thanks to a controversial foul drawn on Arjen Robben, Klass-Jan Huntelarr would net the game-winner on a penalty and lift the Dutch past Mexico.
After a goal from Giovanni Dos Santos gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute, Wesley Sneijder would help the Dutch draw level at 1-1 in the 88th minute and finally solve the newly-minted “Fortress of Fortaleza” in Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Then the controversy would begin.
Three minutes away in stoppage time, Robben would gain possession deep in Mexican territory and keep the ball in, as he came back into the field, Robben would appear to be tripped by Mexico’s Rafael Marquez in the penalty area.
Whether or not Robben was tripped or flopped will be debated all throughout Mexico for a long time, after Huntlaar tucked in the game-winner to complete the Dutch’s comeback, all the haunting questions about whether or not Mexico is a up-and-coming world power will persist.
With the loss, El Tri has now failed to advance into the World Cup quarterfinals in six attempts, and the netherlands become the first time in World Cup history to rally from a one-goal deficit in the knockout stage.
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