Pim Verbeek's men notched their first ever triumph against their hosts to provide the perfect boost for next week's World Cup qualifier in Uzbekistan.

Australia suffered an early blow when Huntelaar rifled the Dutch in front after just six minutes but the home side suffered a massive blow when goalkeeper Martin Steklenburg was sent off on the stroke of half-time for bringing down Josh Kennedy inside the box.

Harry Kewell converted the penalty with Kennedy scoring the all-important second, 15 minutes from time. He glanced a terrific header into the net from Luke Wilkshire's right wing cross.

However, it needed a crucial block by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer at the death to deny Dirk Kuyt an equaliser.


Holland 1 Australia 2



94 FULL-TIME. Australia have done it! An historic 2-1 triumph for Pim's boys.

92 Crucial block by Schwarzer to deny Kuyt a certain goal.

91 Aimless ball into the box easily gathered by Schwarzer. 90 seconds remaining.

90 Holland win a corner down the right. It's scrambled clear. There will be three minutes of added time.

90 Djite caught offside.

89 Beauchamp thumps the ball clear from Kuyt and out for a throw-in.

88 Australia free-kick. Schwarzer to take it. No urgency, surprisingly.

87 Terrific low cross flies across the face of the six-yard box and thankfully Holland are unable to capitalise.

85 Holland launch a free-kick into the area but it's easy for Schwarzer.

83 Free-kick is whipped in and a Dutch head sends the ball flying past the right post.

82 Neill penalised for a push on Babel by the left corner flag. Danger for Australia.

80 Ten minutes to go. Can Australia hold on for an historic win?

79 Djite does well to earn the Aussies a corner down the right. Wilkshire's corner is scrambled clear.

77 Another change for Australia. Jason Culina makes way for Jacob Burns. Josh Kennedy is replaced by Richard Garcia.

75 GOAL: 2-1 to Australia. Wilkshire whips over a cross from the right and Josh Kennedy glances a header past Timmer into the left-corner of the net.

74 Valeri concedes free-kick after foul on De Jong in the middle of the park. The Dutch are unable to make anything of it.

72 The Dutch happy to keep possession as we move towards the final 15 minutes of this friendly.

71 Dutch skipper penalised for a foul in the centre circle.

70 Bruce Djite and Michael Beauchamp enter the fray with Coyne and Holman the men to make way.

69 Kennedy prods goalwards when he should have picked out the unmarked Sterjovski to his right.

68 Kuyt harshly penalised for a foul on Wilkshire.

67 Verbeek's men are unable to take advantage of the set piece.

66 Bresciano clipped. Free-kick for Australia on the left edge of the area. Apologies for the last couple of minutes. Technical gremlins!

63 Van Der Vaart tries to chip the ball over the Australian backline but it rolls straight through to Schwarzer.

62 Van Der Vaart's free-kick whistles into the arms of Schwarzer.

61 Carney penalised for a push on Kuyt. Dutch free-kick on the edge of the box.

60 An hour gone and still the teams are locked at 1-1. Can the 11 men make their advantage count?

58 Bresciano shot from the edge of the area deflects out for a corner which comes to nothing.

57 Sterjovski's cross from the right is a fraction too high for Kennedy. The striker gets his head to it but can't direct effort on target.

56 Heitinga cuts in from the right but his shot flashes high and wide from the edge of the box.

55 Great challenge by Wilkshire to win possession for Australia.

54 A quiet couple of minutes with neither side able to put any meaningful pressure on the other.

52 A cross from the left is plucked out of the air by Schwarzer.

51 Holland win a throw on the right, level with the Australian penalty area. It comes to nothing.

50 Wilkshire's cross from the right headed back across goal by Kennedy but Bresciano just beaten to the loose ball by the keeper.

49 Kennedy flick just outside the box fails to pick out a colleague after an encouraging move.

48 The Dutch pump free-kick into the Australia box but it's headed clear by Chris Coyne.

47 Bresciano's low strike from the left edge of the box lacks the power to trouble the Dutch keeper.

46 Wilkshire clears from Babel on the left byline.

46 The teams are out for the second half. Pim makes a couple of changes. Mark Bresciano and Mile Sterjovski are coming on. Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton are the men to make way. Dirk Kuyt comes on for the Dutch.

After two minutes of stoppage-time, the whistle blows for half time with the two sides level at one apiece. Pim should be fairly happy. The Dutch looked stunned to see their keeper heading for an early shower.

45 GOAL. 1-1. Harry Kewell coolly slams the penalty into the net - straight down the middle - and the Aussies are level.

44 A red card for Dutch keeper Steklenburg! He brings down Josh Kennedy and the referee points to the spot. All from a mistake by Heitenga.

43 Cross from the left picks out Kennedy but his header loops over the crossbar.

42 Holman fouled by Van Bommel. Australia free-kick.

41 Australia win throw on the right, on the halfway line.

40 Handball by De Jong. Australian free-kick on the right. Good move by Australia and Carney's fierce low cross is pushed clear. Sadly there is no Australian shirt there to pounce.

38 The corner from the left picks out Neill but he drags a poor effort wide of the left post.

37 Australia's best chance of the half. Kewell heads the ball through to Holman who races clear into the box, only for the keeper to deflect his shot over the crossbar. He should have scored.

36 Van Der Vaart's long distance effort deflects off Valeri and out for a corner. Huntelaar gets in a header from the set piece but Schwarzer gets down smartly to gather.

35 Coyne's ball forward doesn't find anyone in a green and gold shirt.

34 Huntelaar wins a corner down the left via the leg of Wilkshire. Neill heads clear from the resulting set piece.

33 Babel overruns the ball as he charges in from the left. Goalkick for Australia.

32 Van Persie penalised for handball as he tries to force his way past Lucas Neill.

31 Kennedy can't take a bouncing ball on the edge of the box.

30 Emerton's cross from the right is sliced out of play for an Australian corner. The ball is cleared and when Carney whips in a second delivery it is a simple catch for the keeper.

29 Van Der Vaart gets off a first time effort just inside the area that flashes over the top.

27 Valeri gets out of a tight situation superbly to set up an Australian attack. Again, the green and gold can't make anything of it.

26 The Aussies win a corner down the right. Can they make it count? Sadly not. The ball is punched clear.

25 Schwarzer gathers cross from the right which is hoisted into the area.

24 Australia free-kick on the halfway line but they can't make anything of it.

23 Van Persie's free-kick is too high to worry Schwarzer though.

22 Coyne penalised for foul on Van Der Vaart in central position 25 metres from goal.

21 Carney cuts out pass aimed for Huntelaar down the right.

20 Almost number two for the Dutch. A quick free-kick catches Australia napping and Schwarzer has to smother.

19 Wilkshire's cross from the right blocked for a throw-in. The Dutch then clear the danger.

17 Australia in possession but when the ball is eventually pumped forward Holman is unable to get in a cross.

16 Emerton unable to gather a ball in the right channel as Australia look for a way back into the match.

15 Australia win a throw down the right on the halfway line.

14 Kennedy can't quite connect with a good chance on the edge of the area but still earns his side a corner. Sadly Wilkshire's delivery is gathered easily by the home keeper.

13 Dutch long ball over the top has too much pace for Huntelaar to gather.

12 Play continues and Schwarzer launches a goalkick downfield.

11 A break in play as Van Der Vaart goes down after a tangle with Culina.

10 A good chance for Australia. Emerton's cross from the right picks out Jason Culina and the PSV man plants a diving header just wide of the right post.

9 The Dutch cushion the ball back to their keeper after an Australian attack.

7 Emerton pushes forward for Australia and just when you thought he was going to shoot, he plays the ball to Holman on his right who is standing in an offside position. A wasted opportunity.

6 GOAL: Australia find themselves a goal down. Holland charge down the left, the ball is cut back from the byline to Huntelaar who slams a tremendous first time left-footed strike past Mark Schwarzer from around the penalty spot.

4 Carney cuts out a long flighted pass aimed for Van Persie.

3 Australia win a corner down the left but Holland clear the danger quite comfortably.

2 Chris Coyne concedes a throw in down by the right corner flag but Holland are unable to take advantage - the ball rolls through to Schwarzer.

1 Australia get us underway. Josh Kennedy caught offside in the first 20 seconds.

We're almost ready to go as the two teams line up for the national anthems. The Dutch are playing in an unfamiliar blue while the Aussies are in green and gold.

Pim Verbeek has selected the following team to take on the Dutch in Eindhoven: Mark Schwarzer, Luke Wilkshire, David Carney, Lucas Neill, Chris Coyne, Jason Culina, Carl Valeri, Brett Emerton, Brett Holman, Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy.

Good morning if you've staggered out of bed and good evening if you're just coming in after a night on the town.

More to follow...