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By Theo Ruizenaar
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Josh Kennedy headed home the winner for Australia in a surprising 2-1 win over the Netherlands in a friendly on Saturday.
Ryan Babel, who started instead of the injured Arjen Robben, set up Klaas Jan Huntelaar after five minutes to open the scoring for the Dutch but just before the interval Australia replied.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg committed a foul on Kennedy and was sent off. Harry Kewell converted the resulting penalty.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk brought on substitute goalkeeper Henk Timmer for Huntelaar. Despite the setback, the Dutch kept control of the match but lacked the attacking power to make the difference against a well organised Australian defence.
The visitors had good chances in the first half when Jason Culina headed wide and Stekelenburg saved a shot from an unmarked Brett Holman.
With 15 minutes remaining, Kennedy scored the winner from a cross by Luke Wilkshire.
"I'm disappointed about the way we played between the 10th minute and the red card," Van Marwijk told reporters.
"We were too sloppy in our passing game and committed too many fouls but we improved after the break and I think our second half with 10 men was better then the first."
The Netherlands travel to Macedonia on Wednesday for their first World Cup qualifying match and Australia play in Uzbekistan the same day.
