Netherlands beat Mexico 2-1 in World Cup warm-up

AFP - The Netherlands' impressive build-up to the World Cup gathered pace after Marco van Basten's second-string downed fellow finalists Mexico 2-1.

The Dutch fought back from going a goal down via Bolton centre-forward Jared Borgetti to win courtesy of second-half strikes by John Heitinga and promising Ajax attacker Ryan Babel.

It was another friendly international victory for the Dutch, who defeated Cameroon 1-0 last weekend and who play Australia in their last warm-up game before heading to Germany for the finals on Sunday.

Van Basten fielded virtually an entire second choice side, with only three players doubling up from the win over Cameroon at the weekend.

"It was a good match because it allowed as to evaluate all of the players in our squad," said Van Basten, who is likely to revert to a full-strength team when his side face the Socceroos.

The defeat piled the pressure on Mexico's Argentinian-born coach Ricardo Lavolpe, who saw his team beaten 1-0 by France.

Lavolpe chose to counter Holland's traditional 4-3-3 formation with a five-man defence, and even though four strikers were in the starting line-up there was no mistaking Mexico's caution.

For a while however it looked as if the hit-and-run strategy might pay-off, Borgetti netting from close range after latching on to a corner.

The Netherlands stepped up the tempo after the break, and Heitinga headed home an equaliser from a corner on 52 minutes before Babel met a cross from Dirk Kuyt with a half volley to put the Dutch 2-1 up on 57 minutes.

Mexico, ranked fourth in the world by FIFA and seeded eighth for the finals in Germany, face Portugal, Angola and Iran in their opening round Group D.

The Dutch kick off their Group C campaign against Serbia and Montenegro on June 11 before matches against Argentina and the Ivory Coast.