Four goals in 30 minutes from the golden boots of Patrick Kluivert fired Holland emphatically into the semi-finals of Euro 2000. The Barcelona striker grabbed the glory with two goals either side of half-time to destroy the challenge of Yugoslavia in Rotterdam. Marc Overmars added two more to send Frank Rijkaard's team into Thursday's semi-final against Italy in buoyant mood. Savo Milosevic scored his fifth of the tournament in stoppage time but it was no consolation for Yugoslavia, who were no match for the rampaging co-hosts.
Kluivert's four-goal blitz, which took his Euro 2000 goal-tally to six and his international strike-rate to 29 goals in 44 games, started in the 24th minute. When Bergkamp clipped a pin-point pass to Kluivert in front of goal the striker controlled at full-stretch and, just when it seemed Kralj might manage to smother the shot, poked the ball beyond the keeper. His second came seven minutes before the break in similar fashion to his first. This time it was Davids who supplied the pass and Kluivert, who had drifted away from his marker, slotted a crisp half-volley into the net.
Kluivert attacked the near-post to complete the hat-trick with a classic striker's goal from close range, six minutes after the restart. Bergkamp's free-kick from the Dutch left had been partially cleared to Paul Bosvelt who stormed to the by-line on the right and delivered a low cross into Kluivert's run. Goal number four for the Barcelona goal machine came just three minutes later. Zenden burst into the area from the left and passed to Kluivert, who adjusted brilliantly in front of goal to side-foot a volley past Kralj from an awkward height.
Philip Cocu clipped the bar from long-range but it was Overmars who finally joined Kluivert on the score-sheet. The Arsenal winger volleyed in from 20 yards to open his account in the tournament. His second came when Cocu saw a ferocious drive rebound from the foot of the post into the path of Overmars who claimed his second. Milosevic tapped home his fifth of the tournament in stoppage time after a Mijatovic shot struck the crossbar, but it was the Dutch who went home happy. Kluivert became the first player to score four in a match at any European Championship finals and top scorer at Euro 2000 with six goals. The Netherlands will play their semi-final against Italy on Thursday in Amsterdam.
