World Cup 2014 Brazil » Round of 16 » Live commentary: Netherlands - Mexico 2:1

Fulltime Summary:
It's a final! With an improbable comeback the Elftal secures its spot in the quarter finals! After a underwhelming and anxious showing they had to deliver after going down and substitute Huntelaar proved to be the difference maker with an assist and the decisive penalty goal! Mexico has to cope with the fact that they were so close to advancing to the next round for the first time since 1986 and yet came up short. They got beaten by the individual class of Huntelaar, Robben and Sneijder today and can surely exit the tournaments with their heads held high.

Can Mexico come back from this? They try some final long balls, but Herrera's teams seems unable to switch gears.

Goooal for Netherlands, 2:1 by Klaas Jan Huntelaar
The substitute that only played a remote role so far might have just won it for the Elftal! He keeps his cool and buries the ball in the bottom left corner.

It's six minutes of stoppage time and Holland is pushing for that second goal.

Goooal for Netherlands, 1:1 by Wesley Sneijder
Ochoa is beaten! Huntelaar heads the ball back from the far post to the edge of the box after a Robben corner and Sneijder simply hammers a half-volley into the bottom-left corner. We are level!

Huntelaar receives a ball over the top and Ochoa once again superbly blocks the close-ranged effort. The assistant had his flag up anyway.

The ball swings form left to right, but the Elftal is unable to get into the danger area.

Miguel Herrera is known to be a passionate man and is warned by the referee to stay inside his coaching zone.

We're underway again.

Robben accelerates! Robben just powers through the right side into the penalty area, evades Rafael Márquez's tackle, but can't squeeze it past Ochoa from a tight angle. The keeper already secured the point against a superior Brazil, will he be the hero again today?

Héctor Herrera finds a gap on the left side and fires a bullet across the six yard box, but no teammate is present to poke it home.

Paul Aguilar (Mexico) is shown a yellow card
He is booked for a late challenge.

At least the Elftal has found their rhythm on offense and is working the flanks consistently.

Robben cuts into the middle again and this time delivers a cross in search of van Persie. The United man can't quite reach it and is flies wide of the far post.

Sneijder misses just wide! The pressure is rising from the Elftal as Robben finds space down the right side and characteristically cuts into the middle before laying it off to the Galatasaray man. His effort towards the left corner of the goal is deflected and goes out for a corner.

What a save by Ochoa! A corner slips through to de Vrij at the edge of the six yard box, the centre back directs it towards goal, but the keeper somehow gets his hand on the ball and deflects it on to the post.

Oribe Peralta bullies through the middle and shakes off his opponent before releasing a shot from 20 yards. Jasper Cillessen has no problems catching the ball though.

Wesley Sneijder takes the shot from 27 yards, but fires it into the wall.

That might just have been what this match needed to get going! It's surely deserved for Mexico and now the struggling Elftal has no choice but to find their offense.

The spectators are quickly back at booing the scene. The teams continue poking the ball around in midfield.

The centre back indeed is unable to continue and is replaced by Porto's Diego Reyes.

Halftime Summary:
A rather uninspired Elftal couldn't transfer their stellar play from group phase into today's encounter. They were sitting deep into their own half, only focused on their defensive stability and not willing to take any risk. Mexico was the more determined and courageous side throughout and had chances for a lead, but almost gave away their solid showing on a capital error by Maza late. Stay tuned!

That might even have been a penalty for the Netherlands! Replay shows that sandwiched Robben should have been awarded the spot-kick, but it was hard to see in real-time. Meanwhile Mexico goes into the half with a concern as Moreno has injured himself during the last sequence. He might not be coming back.

It's four minutes of stoppage time because of the drinking break.

So it's not only the players suffering from the conditions, but that should not fully excuse the erratic play throughout.

Miguel Layún remains the danger man for Mexico down the left hand side and van Gaal might need to rearrange things at halftime, because Paul Verhaegh doesn't look strong against the opposing full back.

We're underway again.

Well, it's not the most exciting sequence right now. Mexico have decided to lure the Netherlands themselves and fell back, but all Oranje does is poking the ball around in midfield.

Mexico still controls the majority of possession and is the more determined side, but the opposing defense has settled a bit in the last minutes and contains El Tri well.

Robben sprints down the middle and is clearly brought down at the edge of the box. But Proença is unimpressed for some reason.

Is the stage too big for Jasper Cillessen? The keeper produces a second capital error and his men have to clear inside the danger area. The ensuing challenge on Herrera was a bit high, but not enough for a penalty.

Robben tries to accelerate on the left side, but is forced wide and can only get a throw-in out of it. He believes his cross may have touched Rafael Márquez arm, but the referee waves it off.

Mexico is slightly more engaged so far, but we're still waiting for the first chance of the game.

Jasper Cillessen doesn't look too confident as he is off his line and tries to clear an aerial pass. He produces a rather wild ball that uncontrollably bounces to the middle and is fortunately picked up by a teammate.

Miguel Layún is pressing his luck early and goes for another ranged one cutting into the middle from the left, but he sends the low effort wide again.

Miguel Layún sends a first effort from 25 yards high.

Portugese referee Pedro Proença gets us underway!

Both teams surely don't want to think further than the next 90+ minutes, but given a very winnable quarter final matchup against Greece or Costa Rica, the superior side could be up for a long run going forward. What will prevail today, the finesse of Netherlands or the passion of Mexico? Either way, we fully expect an exciting encounter!

Robin van Persie is back from suspension for the Netherlands and takes over up front while Dirk Kuyt remains in the starting lineup because Martins Indi still hasn't fully recovered from suffering a concussion against Australia. Louis van Gaal also chooses to go with Paul Verhaegh over Daryl Janmaat in his back four. The Netherlands hope that Arjen Robben can carry his stellar play from group stage to the knockout phase, the Bayern star has been performing on elite level so far in this tournament.

El Tri has grown some confidence as well in group stage. They held Brazil to a scoreless tie and only came in second because of the inferior goal difference after wins over Croatia and Cameroon. Herrera's tenacious side has only conceded one goal in group stage and is carried by that Central American passion. The conditions in Fortaleza could also benefit Mexico as temperature will hit 30 degrees Celsius.

Janosch Ferda is commentating for you. Enjoy!