'오렌지 군단' 네덜란드가  2005세계청소년축구선수권대회 개막전에서 일본을 꺾고 상쾌하게 출발했다. 

네덜란드는 11일(한국시간) 네덜란드 케르크라데에서 열린 일본과의 대회 A조 1차전에서 이브라힘 아펠라이와 라이언 바벨의 전반 연속골로 2-1로 승리했다. 
 
약 2만여 홈팬들의 성원을 등에 업은 네덜란드는 개인기와 스피드에서 모두  일본을 압도했고 경기 시작 7분만에 선제골을 뿜어 기선을 제압했다. 

왼쪽 측면에서 올라온 퀸시 아베이에의 크로스를 바벨이 재치있게  뒤꿈치로 흘려주자 문전으로 달려들던 아펠라이가 논스톱슛을 뿜어 네트를 출렁였다. 

네덜란드는 전반 18분 이번에도 명문 클럽 소속인 아베이에(아스날)와  바벨(아약스)의 콤비 플레이로 추가점을 뽑았다. 

아베잉에가 또다시 번개같은 돌파로 일본의 왼쪽 측면을 무너뜨린 뒤 가운데로 패스를 연결, 바벨이 골을 마무리해 스코어를 2골차로 벌린 것. 

뒤늦게 전열을 정비한 일본도 후반 23분 미즈노 고키의 프리킥을 190㎝대의  장신 스트라이커 히라야마 소타가 헤딩슛으로 마무리해 추격전을 벌였다. 

일본은 그러나 종료 직전 아일랜드 출신 귀화선수 로버트 카렌의 슛이 불발되며 승부를 원점으로 돌리지는 못했다. 

앞서 열린 호주와 베냉의 A조 경기는 양팀이 1골씩 교환해 1-1로 비겼다. 

◇11일 전적 

▲조별리그 A조 
 
네덜란드(1승) 2-1 일본(1패) 
호주(1무) 1-1 베냉(1무) 
 
연합뉴스 2005.6.11 

Dutch overcome late nerves to sink Japan (2:1) 
(FIFA.com) 10 Jun 2005 
 
Goals Scored: AFELLAY Ibrahim (NED) 7' , BABEL Ryan (NED) 18' , HIRAYAMA Sota (JPN) 68'  

Quincy Owusu Abeyie takes the applause after his exciting display. Alex Morton ACTION IMAGES (FIFA.com) 10 Jun 2005  

It was a carnival atmosphere at a packed Parkstad Limburg Stadium in Kerkrade as the Netherlands put on an inspired display of football in the first 45 minutes to down brave Japan in their first match at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005.  
  
In a vivid contest of orange and blue, the Europeans' class showed through from the offing.  With speed on the flanks, a fearsome rearguard and class through the middle with its epicentre at captain Hedwiges Maduro, the Dutch U-20s were reviving nostalgic echoes of their total football forbearers. 

With a series of menacing attacks already under their belt, it took only six minutes for the hosts to find their opener.  Arsenal youngster Quincy Owusu Abeyie lived up to billing when he fired in a fine diagonal ball from the right. And after a delicate heel flick from Ajax Amsterdam and senior Dutch international Babel, all Afellay had to do was tap the ball home from 12 yards (1:0, 7'). 

"In the first half the Japanese had no answer for Owusu Abeyie," revered Dutch boss Foppe de Haan told members of the press after the final whistle. "He was quite simply remarkable." 

Try as they might to find a foothold, the delicate Japanese were just no match for their bustling, ultra-inventive hosts.  Soon after the opener, Holland were again on their bikes. Rick Kruys of Utrecht sizzled a shot that Japan keeper Shusaku Nishikawa was relieved to see slip past the far post before some brilliant work down the left from Owusu Abeyie nearly sprang Babel again. 

It didn't take Babel long to atone for his slight sin as he linked up with the magnificent Owusu Abeyie once more shortly after.  The Arsenal man's foraging run up the left saw him leave five Japanese players in his wake. The resulting low cross to Babel was nothing short of perfection, and the striker slammed home from close range (2:0, 18').  

Japan did manage some pockets of brave resistance just after the goal. Akihiro Ienaga had the best chance to pull one back, but his header fizzed just past Kenneth Vermeer's post.  Nothing more than a false dawn for the Asians, the Clockwork Oranje kept up their relentless pressure to the half-time whistle. 

Owusu Abeyie continually terrorised the Japanese right side with his mesmerising stopovers and dazzling control in the second half.  Every touch brought a roar of appreciation from the hypnotised crowd.  But as the hosts moved the ball around without much penetration, the Japanese managed a goal against the run of play with their first substantive attack of the second half.  

Stunned by the surprising Japanese surge, the wheels nearly came off the previously smashing home side. Substitute Koki Mizuno's free kick found the head of Sota Hirayama and the lanky lone striker made no mistake nodding past Kenneth Vermeer 2:1 (76'). 
  
Japan players rue a crucial missed chance towards the end of the match. (ACTION IMAGES) Lee Mills 

Suddenly the Dutch drums fell silent and Ienaga nearly drew level with a ferocious strike in minute 77.   And Robert Cullen nearly drew level in the 90th but instead of pleasant dreams, he will have only nightmares about ballooning over the bar from close range. 
  
In the end, Japan boss Kiyoshi Okhuma was predictably disappointed.  If we played in the beginning they way we played at the end, the result could have been much, much different," the coach lamented after the match. 

"I am pleased with our performance tonight," de Haan told reporters. "The only problem I have is that we did not score enough goals and that made things difficult for us in the end."