Holland thrash Ghana in friendly

A storming attacking display late in the second half handed the Netherlands a convincing 4-1 win over an overwhelmed Ghana in a pre-World Cup friendly here on Tuesday.

The Dutch, who will play in Group E of the World Cup against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, took a one-goal lead into the half-time interval after Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt pounced on a loose ball on the half hour.

Back from the break, Milovan Rajevac made five quick substitutions, sending John Mensah, Andre Ayew, Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan and Dominic Adiyiah as he withdrew Vorsah, Quincy, Amoah, Appiah and Sulley.

Despite missing Bayern Munich ace Arjen Robben, who is nursing a sore hip, the hosts went on to do more damage with three more goals in the final 20 minutes. Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart doubled the Netherlands' lead in the 72nd minute, only for Asamoah Gyan, of French side Rennes, to reduce arrears six minutes later.

Ghana had proved formidable defensively until Kuyt's opportunistic opener, but the rest of their performance will leave Milovan Rajevac worried 10 days ahead of his side's tournament opener against his native Serbia on June 13. Ghana will also play Germany and Australia in Group D.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder produced the masterpiece of the night with the Netherlands' third goal on 80 minutes.

Sneijder, fresh from helping his Italian club claim an historic treble of the Serie A title, Italian Cup and Champions League, unleashed a volley from 20 yards out that flew past Ghana 'keeper Richard Kingson and into the net. Robin van Persie made the scoreline look even more one-sided when he converted from the penalty spot three minutes from full-time.

The Netherlands are coached by Bert van Marwijk, and he has now set a new national record of stretching their unbeaten streak to 18 consecutive matches.

Ghana can be forgiven for looking a bit rusty because this was only their first warm up friendly. They are due to play Latvia in Milton Keynes on the 5th of June before they head to South Africa for the finals. They will expect a much better result against the Latvians and better performance is a must to give them confidence ahead of their opening Group D fixture against Serbia in Pretoria on the 13th of June.

Ghana:


Richard Kingson


Addy


Vorsah


Sarpei


Pantsil


Annan


Boateng


Appiah


Muntari


Owusu-Abeyie


Amoah





Substitutions:


45 Mensah for Vorsah


45 Gyan for Amoah


45 Ayew for Muntari


45 Tagoe for Owusu-Abeyie


45 Adiyiah for Appiah


77 Asamoah for Annan





Goals:


Kuyt (30)


Van Der Vaart (73)


Gyan (78)


Sneijder (81)


Van Persie (87)