Wesley Sneijder’s second-half goal handed Holland a narrow win over Japan in their second Group E match and put the Oranje within reach of the last 16 of the World Cup.
After a frustrating opening half for the Dutch side, they finally broke through in the 53rd minute with Sneijder’s stinging drive deflected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima into his own net.
Japan had the best chance to level the score one minute from time but an unmarked substitute Shinji Okazaki fired over the bar from just 10 yards as Holland held on for victory.