Dutch master rivals with cutting counter attacks

Germany 1 Holland  3 Lethal  finishing from counter-attacks gave Holland victory over arch-rivals Germany in an entertaining…

Germany 1 Holland  3Lethal  finishing from counter-attacks gave Holland victory over arch-rivals Germany in an entertaining friendly international in Gelsenkirchen last night.

The World Cup runners-up controlled possession for long periods, but the visitors made the most of the few chances they created.

Striker Patrick Kluivert put Holland ahead from close range against the run of play on 22 minutes when he latched onto a free kick to guide the ball home.

Germany fought back through striker Fredi Bobic, who celebrated his international return after an absence of nearly five years with a diving header that put the home side level in the 34th minute.

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Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink fired the Dutch side back in front with a low drive from the edge of the box on 69 minutes and Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy, also a second-half substitute, sealed the win by hammering in a Clarence Seedorf cross 10 minutes later.

GERMANY: Kahn; Rehmer, Baumann, Friedrich; Frings, Jeremies (Kehl 46), Ballack, Boehme (Neuville 78), Schneider; Bobic (Asamoah 68), Klose (Freier 46).

HOLLAND: Van der Sar; Ricksen, Stam, F de Boer (van der Vaart 46), Zenden; Seedorf, Bosvelt, Cocu (Reiziger 46), Davids; Makaay (Hasselbaink 65), Kluivert (van Nistelrooy 46)

Referee: Hugh Dallas (Scotland)