Dutch see off spirited Slovakia

Holland booked a World Cup quarter-final spot after a narrow 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Durban.

Arjen Robben opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Wesley Sneijder doubled his team's lead with six minutes remaining. Slovakia scored a consolation goal in stoppage time when Robert Vittek struck from the penalty spot after substitute Martin Jakubko was brought down by Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Stekelenburg had earlier made a great save from Vittek's close-range strike in the 66th minute to deny Slovakia an equaliser.

Holland have now won all four games at the World Cup and will meet the winner of Brazil's clash with Chile on Friday in Port Elizabeth.

Robben earned his first start at the World Cup after recovering from a calf injury and he terrorised Slovakia's defence with pace and skill. His goal came when he picked up a great long ball from Sneijder before cutting inside two defenders and firing a left-footed strike into the net.

Holland were happy to sit on their lead, although Robin van Persie should have done better shortly before the break when firing wide from Mark van Bommel's cross.

Slovakia showed more determination after the restart but it was Holland that looked more deadly, with Robben and van Bommel forcing good saves from Jan Mucha.

Stekelenburg made his first save of the afternoon in the 65th minute by palming over Miroslav Stoch's right-footed strike from the edge of the area. Slovakia should have equalised seconds later but Vittek's effort was parried away by the Holland goalkeeper.

Bert van Marwijk's men capitalised in the 84th minute as Kuyt beat Mucha to a through ball and crossed for Sneijder to slide home.

With seconds remaining, Vittek coolly scored from the penalty spot to score his fourth goal of the World Cup, but it was too little, too late.