Albania 0-1 Netherlands: Dutch scrape home

Group G

	Albania 0 - 1 Netherlands 90' 0 - 1 Ruud van Nistelrooy
0		1

Albania 0 - 1 Netherlands, Goal + Highlights

Ruud van Nistelrooy struck from close range in injury time to earn the Netherlands a hard-fought 1-0 win over Albania in their Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.

Referee Mike Riley blew the final whistle two minutes early in the Group G match after fireworks thrown from the stands exploded above the head of Dutch defender Mario Melchiot.

The win takes the Dutch level with leaders Romania on 20 points and keeps them two points above Bulgaria, who have played a game more after beating visitors Luxembourg 3-0.


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Ryan Babel evades the Albanians

'They started furiously and made it difficult for us but that is not a problem,' Netherlands coach Marco Van Basten said on RTL4-television.

'It was a deserved win because we kept our discipline and therefore my team deserves a compliment.'

In a dreadful game, the Netherlands lacked the creativity and pace to unsettle the passionate Albanians, who set out to earn a point and had their chances to clinch a shock win.

'For an attractive match you need two teams that want to play football but they only pulled back and then it is difficult,' added a relieved Van Basten.

On the stroke of halftime Albania thought they had scored when Melchiot headed past his own keeper Edwin van der Sarhad but Debatik Curri was penalised for pushing the defender.

Robin van Persie was replaced at halftime following a booking that means the winger will miss the next qualifier in Romania next month.

Albania's Alban Bushi forced Van der Sar into a full-length save early in the second half with a shot from 25 metres while Arjan Beqaj kept out two long-range drives by Wesley Sneijder.

But two minutes from time Albania's Lorik Cana was sent off for misconduct and the Dutch took advantage when substitute Urby Emanuelson broke through on the left to set up Van Nistelrooy for the winner triggering missile-throwing by the home fans.

Source: Soccernet.com