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Dutch reach finals

Robin Van Persie ensured Holland qualified for the World Cup finals from Group D with a 2-0 win over Andorra.

The Dutch striker scored a quick-fire brace in the second half as Louis van Gaal's side claimed a win that will take them to Brazil following Romania's defeat by Turkey.

The win means Holland finished the night on 22 points - nine clear of both Romania and Turkey following the latter's 2-0 win in Bucharest and eight ahead of Hungary who are in second place with 14.

Holland always dominated the game and their first chance came in the ninth minute when Jeremain Lens' 25-yard effort was saved comfortably by Andorra goalkeeper Ferran Pol. Stijn Schaars then tested the home side's defence with an inswinging corner, which forced a clearance from Emili Garcia.

The Andorra defender then made a nuisance of himself at the other end, when his header from a corner went over the bar. Wesley Sneijder then missed a chance to put Holland ahead when he shot wide from close range before he fired over the bar from distance on the half-hour mark.

Van Persie saw an effort from a free-kick go wide before Andorra had some more defending to do at the set-piece, denying Schaars and Sneijder from two corners. Ildefons Lima stood firm in Andorra's defence, making several clearances to ensure the two sides met the half-time whistle locked at 0-0.

However, the scores did not remain tied for long in the second half thanks to Manchester United striker Van Persie, who linked up with Kevin Strootman for the opening goal. Strootman fired in a cross from the right wing and Van Persie delivered, scoring from 25-yards in the 50th minute.

Holland goalkeeper Michel Vorm was called into action a couple of minutes later when he punched Marc Pujol Pons's corner clear, but it was Van Persie who found the back of the net again just five minutes after his first score.

Andorra goalkeeper Pol fumbled Darryl Janmaat's cross and the ball fell to Van Persie, who slotted the ball into the goal from close range. Holland continued to go for the jugular, with Sneijder seeing another attempt from 20 yards saved by Pol before Lens put a shot wide.

Lens had another strike punched to safety by Pol in the 65th minute and Van Persie saw his attempt for a hat-trick go begging when he pushed the ball wide from the middle of the area.

Pol then saved a Van Persie header before he again denied Lens from inside the six-yard box. That proved to be the last real chance on goal for the visitors, but a two-goal win proved to be enough to book their place at next year's World Cup.

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