Fortaleza (Brazil), June 29: An injury-time penalty by Klaas Jan Huntelaar against Mexico put the Netherlands into the last eight of the 2014 Fifa World Cup at here on Sunday.

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[Read: Costa Rica beat Greece 5-3 on penalties]

[Read: What are cooling breaks?]

The Dutch got the penalty after Arjen Robben was allegedly brought down in the box by Rafa Marquez in the injury time and Huntelaar made full use of the opportunity to hand over the North Americans their sixth consecutive defeat in the World Cup pre-quarterfinals.

However, it was Wesley Sneijer who brought back the men in orange from the brink of elimination when he scored in the 88th minute to cancel out the brilliant goal by Giovani Dos Santos which had put Mexico ahead in the 48th minute.

Mexico were in firm control of the match till then and were looking favourites to make it to the quarter finals for the first time since 1986 but the two goals in quick succession dashed their dreams. Mexico had four shots at the target in the first half but none could fetch the desired results.

The Dutch, on the other hand, struggled to keep possession early on but got a decent opportunity in the 28th minute when captain Robin van Persie, who returned in this match after serving a ban, brought a loftd ball down but couldn't connect it properly with his right feet.

Peralta, who had scored the winner against Cameroon in the group stage, blasted a shot at Cillessen, the Dutch goalkeeper, but couldn't beat him. Santos moved into the box and made another effort off Andres Guardado but in vain as the goalkeeper came in his way.

Holland came close to scoring in the stoppage time when Persie pounced on a ball after a lapse by Marquez and charged at the Mexican goalkeeper with Robben's support but couldn't finish off the task.

This match saw the implementation of the cooling breaks for the first time in the history of World cup football.

Oneindia News

[With PTI input]