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Today's paper. Last Updated: 06/04/2012

Saudis and Dutch Advance

WASHINGTON -- Saudi Arabia, who nearly pulled off a major upset against the Netherlands, completed the effort Wednesday, stunning European power Belgium 1-0 on a magnificent solo run by Saeed Owairan to advance to the second round of the World Cup.


In a simultaneous game, the Netherlands 2-1 victory assured them a second-round berth as well.


An earlier Dutch victory, combined with Wednesday's win, gave them the Group F title and allowed them to stay in Florida for a second-round match against Ireland on Monday. The Saudis finish second in the group because of its 2-1 loss to the Dutch earlier in the round, and will go to Dallas to play Sweden on Sunday. The Belgians, who led the group coming into Wednesday's game, finished third and will play either Germany on Saturday or the Group D winner on Tuesday in the second round.


The Saudis' goal from Owairan came after he took the ball from midfield past Dirk Medved, sidestepped Michel De Wolf, turned Rudy Smidts around and got off a falling shot past Philippe Albert from about the six-meter line that flew over goalkeeeper Michel Preud'homme in the fifth minute.


The Saudis used a counterattack offense to perfection, springing several players free. Belgium coach Paul Van Himst sent in Luc Nilis in the first half and Josip Weber in the second to add offensive punch.


The Belgians had the majority of possession in the first half, but no scoring chances until coach Paul Van Himst replaced forward Marc Degryse with Nilis in the 24th minute.


Three minutes later Marc Wilmots fanned on a shot at a wide open net from five meters and Nilis sent a shot just wide of the right post in the 29th.


The Belgians created far more chances in the second half, but still were whistled by their fans in the partisan crowd of 52,959.


Netherlands 2, Morocco 1. In Orlando, Florida, Dennis Bergkamp scored his first World Cup goal and set up the winner as Holland beat Morocco.


Morocco, which also lost its two previous games, was eliminated from its third World Cup finals.


Bergkamp scored in the 43rd and Bryan Roy tallied the winner in the 78th for the Dutch, a two-time runnerup in the World Cup.


Hassan Nader got Morocco's goal in the 47th.


Bergkamp's goal gave the Netherlands a 1-0 halftime lead, capping a period of Dutch pressure after a slow start in 46 degree Celsius heat.


The 25-year-old striker, who plays for Italy's Internazionale of Milan, took a loose ball in the Moroccan penalty area, tipped it from his right foot to the left and nailed it home.


Mustapha Hadji, Morocco's star forward, came on after halftime and immediately revived his team, checkmating the Dutch defense on a simple, speedy move down the field, which Hassan Nader completed. It was to to no avail as Roy kicked the winner 31 minutes later.




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