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Other Football

The Netherlands’ Olympic team saved their best till last as they scored late goals to down Cameroon 2-0.

The Dutch now take pole position thanks to goals from Ryan Babel and Roy Makaay in the four-nation ING Cup tournament at Hong Kong Stadium. The USA and Olympic debutants Ivory Coast drew 0-0 in the evening’s first match.

The Netherlands, who play the Ivory Coast on Saturday, took the lead in the 87th minute when a spell of ‘total football’ finished with midfielder Urby Emanuelson picking out Makaay on the top of the area and the former international hit man playing an angled ball into the path of the oncoming Babel, who finished coolly into the bottom corner.

As the Lions roared forward in search of an equaliser, the Dutch sprung a fast counter-attack in the fifth minute of injury time, with midfielder Evander Sno’s through ball setting Babel away on the left wing.

The Liverpool star showed no signs of his recent ankle injury as he sprinted into the box, dragged the ball back and squared to the oncoming Makaay who made no mistake with a close-range finish and effectively underlined what coach Foppe de Haan later admitted would be his ideal striking partnership.

“When everyone’s fit, Makaay and Babel will be my first choice partnership up front. This was the first time they played together and this partnership could be very effective. Makaay is a real hunter, a killer, and Babel is really dangerous when he has space to run in,” De Haan said.

“We may start them together on Saturday against the Ivory Coast. We’re looking to protect Makaay a little, although he looked very fit, and we’ll see how much we can play Babel, as he’s only played 45 minutes in a game so far.”

De Haan was pleased with the late finish by his side, who will go into the Olympics as the top-seeded European team after winning last year’s UEFA U-21 Championship,

“A game is 90 minutes; actually tonight it was 95 minutes, but the point is we played well till the end, which is when spaces open up,” said De Haan, whose main concern was a thigh injury sustained by national team defender Kew Jaliens in the second half.

“We carried out our game plan. We were more compact than in last week’s win in Belgium, and played better in the second half as we found more space.”

It was a cruel finish for Cameroon, who had played their part in what was a tight contest till the final minutes. However, last year’s All Africa Games champions lost shape with their late substitutions, in contrast to the Dutch, whose second-half additions showed the depth of their highly rated squad.

“It was a good game and was even for 80 minutes or so, but we lost our shape a bit when we substituted Alex Song (in the 70th minute) and tried to play as many of our players as we could,” said Cameroon coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile.

“Their subs played well, but the problems were more on our side as we lost our way a bit. I still think we have a good chance at the Olympics, as we have not yet played our strongest starting line-up,” he added in reference to the recent arrival of Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia, who’s set to play in Saturday’s game against the USA.

Cameroon had their own injury scare when striker Christian Bekamenga went off on the stroke of half-time, also with a thigh injury, after showing great skill to turn the Dutch defence and pull off a fine save from Piet Velthuizen.

However, giant defender Andre Bikey said the result will motivate the team even more, as they seek to get into full swing ahead of next month’s Games.

“I’m not happy with the score and a little bit tired. However, when we went a goal down, we showed we have a lot of fight in the team and we still really want to do well,” said the Reading defender.

“It’s hot and we’re fighting with time to get ready, but that’s why we chose to play here, as it gives us the best chance to get ready and prepared for China.”

After an even first half, the Dutch brought on Babel on for six-foot six-inch target man Gerald Sibon, while Emanuelson replaced Otman Bakkal in midfield, and Calvin Jong-A-Pin took over from Erik Pieters at left-back.

Until his substitution in the 68th minute, central midfielder Hedwiges Maduro was the pick of the Dutch, spraying passes and making incisive runs from midfield. The Valencia star had a typical burst in the 32nd minute when his shot from outside the box was parried away by Joslain Mayebi, with Makaay unable to convert the follow-up.

Three minutes into the second half, Makaay squandered a great chance when set up on the edge of the area by Jong-A-Pin.

With Cameroon’s speedy right-back putting shackles on the skilful Royston Drenthe, the Real Madrid star also made way in the 68th minute, with the speedy Roy Beerens coming on at left wing.

In the 79th minute, Cameroon’s Marc Mboua outmuscled Dirk Marcellis but after turning the PSV defender in the six-yard box, the Holland-based forward shot wide from a tight angle. It was to prove a costly miss, with the Dutch getting into stride as the minutes ticked on and spaces opened up.