Netherlands warming up well

Rotterdam (Netherlands): Ruud van Nistelrooy scored to give the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

The Dutch dominated the game on a slippery pitch, helped by Arsenal forward Robin van Persie.

The home team went ahead in the 23rd minute after defender Joris Mathijsen spotted Andre Ooijer free in the center.

A 40-meter (yard) pass gave the PSV player time to flick the ball in the path of Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy, who beat goalkeeper Idriss Kameni from close range.

Kameni made several saves early on to keep the result respectable for the Africans, whose robust play got them five yellow and one red card late in the game.

Van Persie, with his weaving runs and dangerous crosses, was the man of the match.

"He got his chance, he played well and he took his chance," captain and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

The match was the first in a series of three preparation games for the Dutch. They play World Cup qualifiers Mexico on Thursday and Australia on June 4, before heading for their training base in Freiburg in southern Germany.

The Netherlands opens its World Cup campaign against Serbia-Montenegro on June 11 and also plays Ivory Coast and Argentina in Group C, generally considered the toughest of the opening-round groups.

Cameroon is trying to rebuild after missing the World Cup finals.

The Dutch rested creative midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, who is still recovering from ankle surgery, allowing Ajax's Wesley Sneijder a game in midfield.

Van Nistelrooy's goal was his 26th for Holland in 50 internationals.

Cameroon played without FC Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and rarely created chances. When it did, it found Van der Sar in its way.

In the 42nd, the Manchester United goalkeeper pulled off a stunning reflex on a short-range shot from Pierre Webo.

Playing in a constant cold drizzle on a slippery pitch, skillful play was tough, but Van Persie had no trouble. He totally dominated the right and drew Cameroon defenders into countless fouls and two yellow cards.

The second half was far choppier, and not only because of string of replacements.

The rain increasingly made the pitch unplayable and Cameroon finally started looking for an equalizer and playing like their No. 15 FIFA ranking.

Five minutes from the end, Cameroon's Alioum Saidou was sent off for protesting.