EINDHOVEN, September 6 (Friendly) - Australia came from behind to clinch victory against 10-man Holland in their friendly international in Eindhoven on Saturday.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar gave the Oranje the lead in just the fifth minute, but the game was turned on its head when home goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time.
Harry Kewell converted the resultant penalty and Josh Kennedy produced the winner on 76 minutes to ensure the Socceroos a winning preparation ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Wednesday.
Holland coach Bert van Marwijk opted to start with Robin van Persie, despite his injury worries, as he sought to give the Arsenal forward some match practice ahead of their World Cup opener away to Macedonia on Wednesday. Real Madrid midfielder Arjen Robben, however, was not called upon.
The only surprise in Australia's starting XI was AZ Alkmaar forward Brett Holman's inclusion in the midfield ahead of Mark Bresciano, while Carl Valeri filled in for injured defensive midfielder Vince Grella.
The Dutch wasted little time to grab the lead, converting from their first opportunity of the match after five minutes.
A long ball down the left opened up for Ryan Babel to run on to and his cut-back into the box found Huntelaar, who struck a low shot past Mark Schwarzer.
Australia responded with some good attacks on the counter, including Brett Emerton's clever cross for Jason Culina who could only head wide.
Schwarzer did well to thwart Johnny Heitinga after 20 minutes with the Atletico Madrid defender put through from a quick free-kick, but unable to get past the veteran Australian goalkeeper.
The home side continued to probe away with Van Persie shooting just over from a free-kick while Rafael van der Vaart did the same when well fed by Babel.
Holman should have equalised in the 37th minute when a gentle header from Kewell set him through on Stekelenburg, who managed to deflect the Australian's low shot.
But the real drama for the Dutch keeper came in the 44th minute. A horrible back pass from Heitinga forced Stekelenburg into a reckless lunge on Kennedy and he brought the big Australian down.
Referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and then handed the keeper a red card. Kewell slotted the penalty past substitute stopper Henk Timmer and it was 1-1 at the break.
Bresciano and Mile Sterjovski replaced Kewell and Emerton at half time as Australia coach Pim Verbeek looked to save his most influential players for the Tashkent match.
Van Persie departed as well, with Dirk Kuyt on as the lone front man after Huntelaar had gone off for Timmer before the break.
With both teams having more important games on their plates this week, there was no great hurry to find a winner and despite having an extra man Australia preferred the long ball.
The away side's persistence was eventually rewarded when former FC Twente midfielder Luke Wilkshire provided an excellent cross for Kennedy, who jumped above Andre Ooijer and headed well to beat Timmer.
Pride wounded, the home side searched hard for an equaliser, but substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed wide from a corner and then failed to connect to Ibrahim Afellay's cross.
Kuyt forced Schwarzer to save in injury time, but the Socceroos held on and will head to central Asia full of confidence.
ends
