Kuyt joy as Dutch triumph

Dirk Kuyt's Holland got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start following a 2-0 win over Daniel Agger's Denmark on Monday afternoon.

The Reds forward watched on with glee as his club-mate deflected Simon Poulsen's attempted clearance into his own net within seconds of the restart before tapping home from close range five minutes from time to hand the Dutch a dream opening in Group E.

It means Holland can take a major step towards the knockout stage with victory over Japan next Saturday while Denmark will look to get their bid back on track against Cameroon.

Oranje made the brighter start at Soccer City and went close as early as the seventh minute when Kuyt tested Thomas Sorensen with a low 25 yarder.

It set the tone for much of the first period with Holland pressing for openings against a stubborn Danish rearguard that were well marshalled by Agger and the highly-rated Simon Kjaer.

The Dutch are regarded as one of the few teams capable of going the distance in South Africa and they showed signs of their attacking prowess early on, with Rafael Van Der Vaart twice firing just off target after good approach play.

Denmark had rarely ventured forward at the midway point in the half but they grew in confidence as it wore on and perhaps should have struck an opening goal on the counter attack.

Nicklas Bendtner somehow contrived to head wide after Agger and Dennis Rommedahl had combined to set him up, while the latter brought a fine save out of Maarten Stekelenburg with a rasping shot.

Bert Van Marwijk's side then stepped up a gear to end the half in the ascendancy and Robin Van Persie showed sublime skills to outfox Agger before crashing wide at the near post.

However, the Dutch didn't have long to wait for the breakthrough and they were gifted the opener within seconds of the restart.

Van Persie showed impressive pace to beat Sorensen to a long diagonal ball on the left edge of the area. The Arsenal man then turned his full-back inside out and crossed deep for Kuyt, who could only watch on as Poulsen headed an attempted clearance into his own net via Agger.

It was cruel on a Denmark side that had looked solid for much of the match, but as they searched for a way back into the contest, they left holes at the back that the Dutch looked to expose.

First Van Persie should have done better when sent clear by Kuyt before Van Der Vaart's looping shot was easily gathered by Sorensen.

Mark Van Bommel then tested Sorensen with a surging run and shot before Kuyt sealed the win five minutes from time when he tapped home the rebound after substitute Eljero Elia saw his dinked effort come back off the post.

Breakdown of key contributions from our boys:

1 min: Agger plays a weak back pass towards Thomas Sorensen but the 'keeper does well to fire the ball to safety under pressure

3 min: The Danish centre back looks to make amends when he swaggers forward in typically adventurous style but sees his 25 yard shot well blocked

 10 min: Kuyt picks up a pass from Wesley Sneijder and digs out a low effort that Sorensen gathers at the second attempt

17 min: Kuyt delivers a searching cross to the far post that Lars Jacobsen is forced to head behind with Rafael Van Der Vaart lurking

20 min: Van Der Vaart picks up Robin Van Persie's clever flick and looks odds-on to score until Agger makes a superb last-ditch block on the edge of the penalty area

21 min: Van Der Vaart flashes just over the top after a delightful one-two between Kuyt and Mark Van Bommel had opened up the Danish defence

27 min: Agger plays a sensational cross-field ball to Dennis Rommedahl. The winger controls the pass on the right before crossing towards Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner who guides a header wide

33 min: A spell of Dutch pressure ends with Kuyt sending a dangerous low ball into the area, only to see an outstretched Danish leg deflect to safety

41 min: Kuyt races down the right but Agger is across to cover, forcing his Reds teammate to concede a free-kick on the far right of the Denmark penalty area

42 min: Agger is again the man to Denmark's rescue, producing a well-timed challenge to deny the marauding Van Der Vaart

43 min: Van Persie turns Agger inside out before drilling wide at the near post

46 min: Van Persie beats Sorensen to a long diagonal ball and shows good composure before floating in a cross that Simon Poulsen heads into his own net via a deflection off Agger

52 min: Kuyt plays in Van Persie but the striker's first touch is poor, allowing Sorensen to smother at his feet

58 min: Agger's long throw from the left causes havoc in the Holland defence, but Kjaer's flick comes to nothing

68 min: Agger's speculative 40 yard drive is easily gathered by Maarten Stekelenburg

69 min: It's been an eventful match for Agger and he is once again in the thick of the action with a brilliant challenge to deny Van Persie after substitute Eljero Elia crossed low from the left

82 min: Sneijder cuts inside and fires in a shot that loops off Agger and looks like dropping under the bar until Sorensen tips over

85 min: Elia races through and sees a shot bounce back off the post, but Kuyt is on hand to tap home to seal victory