World Cup: Dutch Smash Spain, Stun Champs The Associated Press
go to original June 14, 2014

The Netherlands thrashed the world champions 5-1 Friday in the World Cup's first shocker, toying with an aging Spanish team that has dominated global football for the past six years and avenging a loss in the 2010 Cup final.

Though Spain still could advance out of the group stage, the game may have signaled the end of the run by a generation of Spanish stars whose quick passing, "tiki-taka" style delighted the world.

Dutch strikers Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben both scored twice, including van Persie's diving header off an audacious 40-yard pass. The ball looped over hapless Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas as van Persie slid on his stomach on the wet grass before running to the sidelines with his fists clenched to celebrate what is sure to be one of the goals of the tournament.

Defender Stefan de Vrij also scored — his first international goal — in a dominating second half that had the orange-clad Dutch fans in Salvador, Brazil, on their feet the whole time. It was Spain's worst World Cup loss since a 6-1 defeat to Brazil in 1950.

Read the rest at lohud.com

Chile 3, Australia 1: At Cuiaba, Brazil, Alexis Sanchez scored one goal and set up another for Chile, one of the dangerous outsiders in the tournament. Star forward Tim Cahill headed in Australia's goal. Chile next plays Spain on Wednesday.

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