JOHANNESBURG — The Dutch had an angel in their corner.
She was sitting in the front row at Soccer City stadium on Monday afternoon, with blonde hair and sunglasses and an ankle-length orange dress.
But it was her wings that caught the eye.
Dutch fans are a colorful and creative lot, and she was no exception.
As it turned out, the Netherlands needed an angel. Despite the presence of stars such as Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart, the team struggled to overcome an outclassed Danish squad 2-0.
The winning goal, which came in the first minute of the second half, was a gift from above.
Van Persie floated an innocuous cross in from the left flank, and Danish defender Simon Poulsen rose to head the ball clear but instead powered it off the back of teammate Daniel Agger and into the net.
The own goal was the breakthrough the Dutch needed, and it left Poulsen stunned.
"I was just thinking this can't be happening," he said.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen refused to blame the defender.
"Poulsen was one of our best players," he said. "It happens in the career of every player. … He just has to forget it and look forward."
Having taken the lead, the Netherlands began playing with more confidence but still without the flair and creativity of which the Oranje is capable. In fact, it was not until livewire winger Eljero Elia was sent on as a substitute in the 67th minute that things perked up a bit.
Five minutes before the end, his diagonal shot slammed into the foot of the right post, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, and Dirk Kuyt rushed in to poke the rebound home.
With the victory secured, the Dutch began stroking the ball around the field with aplomb.
"After the second goal you could see what we are capable of doing," Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk said. "The players were relieved. I was relieved."
By the time Kuyt's goal shook the back of the net, the angel was long gone, but the impression left behind was that she or some similar guiding light will be needed if the Netherlands is to be back at Soccer City on July 11 for the final.
gjones@tribune.com