Dutch beat sweden on penalty shootout

The Netherlands broke their shootout jinx as they beat Sweden 5-4 on penalties in their Euro 2004 quarter-final at the Algarve Stadium Saturday in Faro, Portugal.

After neither team scored during regular and extra time, the Netherlands were the strongest in the decisive penalty shootout with Van der Sar saving Olof Mellberg's shot, after which Robben scored the winner.

The Dutch had suffered the heartbreak of losing shootouts in the last three European championships and the 1998 World Cup. But this time, luck was on their side.

Starting from the very beginning, both sides wanted to grab a scoring chance, but neither had succeeded in breaking the deadlock in 120 minutes.

The Netherlands did not get any real chance to score until 15 minutes into the game, when Seedorf shot on goal from a free kick at a distance of about 30 meters, but only saw the ball was confiscated by goalkeeper Eriksson without any difficulty.

Ten minutes later, it was Sweden's turn to try from a distance but Henrik Larsson's shot went past the wall and past the right goal.

In the 42nd minute, Sweden got their best chance to break the deadlock as the Dutch defense looked weak and Jonson passed to Svensson whose shot was blocked by Wilfred Bouma.

The Netherlands attacked more ferociously in the second half and saw their best chance to score but it was Sweden who saw the best chance in the 58th minute when Ibrahimovic's right-foot shot was cleared off the line.

Four minutes later, the Netherlands almost changed the score when Van Nistelrooy controlled a raking Seedorf pass and saw his shot saved by Isaksson, with the ball rebounding back off Van Nistelrooy and dribbling agonizingly wide of the goal.

In extra time, Sweden held an upper hand by striking the post and crossbar.

The Netherlands will play Portugal in the semi-finals in Lisbon next Wednesday.