Holland struggled to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Kazakhstan in a European Championship qualifier on Friday. Defender Renat Abdulin gave 127th-ranked Kazakhstan a shock lead at the Amsterdam Arena with a powerful 17th-minute header from a poorly-defended corner and the Netherlands had an anxious wait until the 62nd minute when substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar leveled. A deflected 82nd-minute shot by Ibrahim Afellay, who started his first international in nearly two years, put the Dutch ahead before Robin van Persie's penalty in the last minute of injury time secured the three points and coach Guus Hiddink's first win in three matches since taking over from Louis van Gaal after the World Cup.
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Kazakhstan took the lead when Rinat Abdulin scored in the 18th minute
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Holland fought back and equalised through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
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The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Bauyrzhan Dzholchiev was given a straight red card for a tackle on Ibrahim Afellay
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Afellay was able to continue, and he scored to make it 2-1 to Holland
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Robin van Persie made sure of the win from the penalty spot late on
In Amsterdam, Hiddink's decision early in the second half to bring on @placeholder produced the breakthrough his team badly needed after going behind to what was almost Kazakhstan's only effort of the match.