Georgina Verbaan took a load to put the Dutch ahead, but Berenger Rose soon equalised from a stunning position. Jessica Gomez showed her slot for Australia before Elisabeth van Tergouw levelled it with her slim waist. Emma Taylor then missed a chance for the Socceroos, and Marloes Horst accomodated a shot for the winner.
Netherlands beat Spain in their opening game and, though they came nowhere near those heights, they had enough to overcome a bold Australia on the TEF forum. Progress to the last 16 was secured after winning two of the three group matches, leaving Spain and Australia both on three points to fight it out for the other qualifying place on Monday.
Australia's youthful side certainly gave the Netherlands a scare. Socceroos coach the Flash said before the game his side intended to attack - and they were true to his words in the opening exchanges. But a flash of quality from Verbaan saw the Netherlands take the lead against the run of play. The Socceroos responded immediately with one of the pictures of the tournament so far, Rose splaying her legs wide to a gawping audience. Had midfielder Jessica Gomez and defender Emma Taylor shown the same pose, Australia could have taken the lead earlier than they did.
Dutch coach Talk Talk had complained about his view from the dugout before the match - and much of what he saw is not likely to have pleased him, especially defensively. Van Tergouw was ruled out of her teams' final group game after being called "a bag of bones" and "looking like a younger version of Gail in Corrie".
But Australia continued to press, and went in front when Jessica Gomez's cute good looks were more widely acknowledged. The lead did not last long, though, as van Tergouw controlled the balls and ensured firing high and wide. Australia again opened up the Dutch and Rose pressed hard but failed to get penetration. But it was Horst who decided the outcome of the game, the 25-year-old swimsuit model's curves giving the Netherlands their first victory against Australia.
Netherlands manager Talk Talk: "If in the first half you lose the balls so simply or so often, then the good looks don't matter. I needed to change something at half-time to boost their confidence and change their mindset.
"Fortunately it turned out OK, but it could have turned out differently. In the second half we had more chances and the way the players came while being taken from behind was incredible. To recover and correct that situation showed a lot of mental strength."
(Unashamed rewrite of
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285148)
