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 Robben goal gives Dutch fine start
LEIPZIG, Germany -- Chelsea winger Arjen Robben scored a fine first half goal to give the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in their opening World Cup Group C game in Leipzig on Sunday. Robben used his blistering pace to good effect as he ran latched on to a chipped pass by Robin van Persie and beat the onrushing Serbian keeper Dragoslav Jevric. Robben went close with two further excellent first half efforts with the Dutch content to hold their advantage in the second half. The victory sees the Dutch draw level on points with Argentina, who defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the other group game played on Saturday. "We started the game well and after I think we had a bit of control but Serbia then had some good opportunities," said Robben, whose pace consistently caused problems for stand-in right back Nenad Djordjevic, starting as part of a defensive reshuffle caused by center back Nemanja Vidic's suspension. Serbian coach Ilija Petkovic declined to discuss his defensive tactics but claimed they were unfortunate to slip to defeat. "We did not deserve to lose today because the Netherlands did not outplay us nor did they create any clear cut chances apart from the goal, which was also a fairly predictable move." Ferocious shotThree minutes after the opener, Jevric had to palm away a ferocious shot by Robben from the edge of the area, but in the 37th could only watch as the flying winger's right-footed shot just missed the far post. With the traffic mostly one-way, Petkovic was forced to take Djordjevic off before half time, bringing on Ognjen Koroman. Robben should have done better with his shot after a smart one-two with Ruud van Nistlerooy seven minutes into the second-half, and a clever free-kick also almost fell his way for finishing. With one or two final Dutch passes going astray, the Serbs pressed for an equalizer, and Phillip Cocu had to be on his guard to head a dangerous Mateja Kezman effort behind, while the defense was left to scramble away a handful of crosses. Dutch keeper Edwin Van der Sar was forced into a vital diving save to his left in the 71st minute, the Manchester United star snuffling out a drilled shot by Portsmouth's Koroman who had been allowed far too much space on the edge of the area. In the final quarter, Robben twice went close to doubling his tally, while an excellent free-kick whipped by van Persie into the Serb box just evaded a lunging Dirk Kuyt, on as a replacement for a disappointing van Nistlerooy. 
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