Oranje squeeze past Luxembourg

Joris Mathijsen's first international goal proved enough for the Netherlands to make a winning start to their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group G campaign but Luxembourg can take heart from having kept the score down thanks to goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert.

Joubert stops
The Netherlands signalled their intentions in the opening minutes as Theo Janssen shot wide and Robin van Persie's header from Mathijsen's cross was well saved by Joubert. Van Persie then picked out Klaas Jan Huntelaar but Joubert was on hand to deny the forward before Dirk Kuijt saw his effort parried by the custodian. Another fine Van Persie pass found Mathijsen, with Joubert again equal to the strike.

Dutch ahead
However, the breakthrough eventually came and Van Persie was the creator as he combined with Mathijsen, whose initial attempt was blocked before he made no mistake from close range. Sébastien Remy went in search of the equaliser two minutes later but his long-range drive flew over the bar and Joubert was back in action to block Denny Landzaat's header. Edwin van der Sar's first save came in the 35th minute from Remy's shot from distance, while at the other end Huntelaar nodded wide.

Kuijt denied
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink arrived at half-time and almost immediately drew a save from Joubert with his header. The new Celtic FC striker again engaged the keeper, this time along the ground, and then from close range not long after the hour. Joubert produced yet another super stop with 20 minutes left to keep out Kuijt's shot, and the forward hit the post late on. But the visitors' points were secure, and today's only Group G winners meet Belarus on Wednesday. Luxembourg play Latvia in a friendly that day before their next group game in Slovenia on 7 October.