Suddenly the Netherlands started to produce the flowing football that lit up their group games in Berne, and their supporters responded accordingly. But if many Dutch players were fresh after sitting out the Romania game, Arshavin was also relatively rested having been suspended for the first two matches and from a solo run forced Van der Sar to save. The goalkeeper then tipped over Kolodin's ferocious shot before the Netherlands attacked again at the other end as Khalid Boulahrouz, whose late baby daughter was remembered by his team-mates' black armbands, sent Van Nistelrooy through for an effort that Igor Akinfeev blocked.
Russia started sharper in the second half, Arshavin nearly scoring with a swerving free-kick and a minute later Semak sent in a cross from the left that Pavlyuchenko gleefully turned in. Russia were allowing the Netherlands little of the ball and attacking at pace, Van der Sar using instinct and one hand to keep out an Aleksandr Anyukov strike. The goalkeeper also saved when Pavlyuchenko was sent through while Torbinski was unfortunate not to turn the ball in soon after. It seemed the Oranje's campaign was over but with four minutes left Wesley Sneijder curled in a free-kick for Van Nistelrooy to head in and force an extra half-hour.
However Russia were unbowed, Semshov forcing a diving stop from Van der Sar while Arshavin struck over and Pavlyuchenko's dipping shot was only kept out by the crossbar. Arshavin then burst through and crossed for Torbinski, only for Van der Sar to again block. The second extra period continued in the same vein, Pavlyuchenko just failing to turn in Arshavin's cross but finally the breakthrough came when the FC Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker sent over another looping centre for Torbinski to volley in. Four minutes later Arshavin sealed a semi-final place with the goal his play deserved as his shot deflected in off John Heitinga, confirming that the Netherlands would follow fellow group winners Portugal and Croatia home
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