FOOTBALL NEWS FROM World Cup 2014
Lens sees red in stalemate
Netherlands extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches with a draw against Colombia despite Jeremain Lens' first-half dismissal at the Amsterdam Arena.
Lens was given a straight red for a poor tackle on Pablo Armero after 35 minutes and the Oranje's night got worse before the break as both Rafael van der Vaart and Siem de Jong were forced off injured.
Despite that, Netherlands held on for a 0-0 draw after the break with Colombia's star striker Radamel Falcao becalmed throughout.
Van der Vaart had been an influential figure in the early exchanges before his injury and was only denied an opener on seven minutes by the woodwork.
The Hamburg midfielder's 20-yard effort rebounded to De Jong inside the six-yard box but he could not force the ball on target.
Van der Vaart drifted into space on the left-hand side of the penalty area soon after only to frustratingly mis-hit his shot wide.
Lens was similarly wasteful from even closer soon after before Colombia almost stole ahead against the run of play.
Carlos Sanchez thought he had scored from 12 yards only for Jasper Cillessen to make a fantastic save.
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado blasted a long-range effort wide on the half-hour before Lens was given his marching orders.
Lens went in hard on Armero and, despite the match being a friendly, was shown a straight red card.
Netherlands' half got worse as De Jong and Van der Vaart were both forced off by injury before the 45 minutes expired, with Luciano Narsingh and Leroy Fer replacing them.
Netherlands faced an uphill task against a Colombia side that beat Belgium 2-0 last week, but the visitors failed to find any sort of cutting edge.
The hosts were first to threaten after the break as Gregory Van Der Wiel drilled a right-footed effort over the crossbar.
Macnelly Torres spurned a couple of chances in quick succession at the other end.
First his volley from 12 yards flew over before Cillessen held on when the midfielder tried his luck from range.
Netherlands were offering a sporadic threat and Fer's volley was blocked by Cristian Zapata.
Cillessen was the busier goalkeeper though and he needed safe hands to hold on to James Rodriguez's well-hit 20-yarder.
Zapata was more wasteful from further out, but with Falcao absent as an attacking force he was eventually withdrawn with 87 minutes on the clock.
Kevin Strootman almost had the final say, heading wide from 12 yards, but Netherlands were happy to end the year unbeaten.
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Netherlands extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches with a draw against Colombia despite Jeremain Lens' first-half dismissal at the Amsterdam Arena.Lens was given a straight red for a poor tackle on Pablo Armero after 35 minutes and the Oranje's night got worse before the break as both Rafael van der Vaart and Siem de Jong were forced off injured.
Despite that, Netherlands held on for a 0-0 draw after the break with Colombia's star striker Radamel Falcao becalmed throughout.
Van der Vaart had been an influential figure in the early exchanges before his injury and was only denied an opener on seven minutes by the woodwork.
The Hamburg midfielder's 20-yard effort rebounded to De Jong inside the six-yard box but he could not force the ball on target.
Van der Vaart drifted into space on the left-hand side of the penalty area soon after only to frustratingly mis-hit his shot wide.
Lens was similarly wasteful from even closer soon after before Colombia almost stole ahead against the run of play.
Carlos Sanchez thought he had scored from 12 yards only for Jasper Cillessen to make a fantastic save.
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado blasted a long-range effort wide on the half-hour before Lens was given his marching orders.
Lens went in hard on Armero and, despite the match being a friendly, was shown a straight red card.
Netherlands' half got worse as De Jong and Van der Vaart were both forced off by injury before the 45 minutes expired, with Luciano Narsingh and Leroy Fer replacing them.
Netherlands faced an uphill task against a Colombia side that beat Belgium 2-0 last week, but the visitors failed to find any sort of cutting edge.
The hosts were first to threaten after the break as Gregory Van Der Wiel drilled a right-footed effort over the crossbar.
Macnelly Torres spurned a couple of chances in quick succession at the other end.
First his volley from 12 yards flew over before Cillessen held on when the midfielder tried his luck from range.
Netherlands were offering a sporadic threat and Fer's volley was blocked by Cristian Zapata.
Cillessen was the busier goalkeeper though and he needed safe hands to hold on to James Rodriguez's well-hit 20-yarder.
Zapata was more wasteful from further out, but with Falcao absent as an attacking force he was eventually withdrawn with 87 minutes on the clock.
Kevin Strootman almost had the final say, heading wide from 12 yards, but Netherlands were happy to end the year unbeaten.