A first-half Ruud van Nistelrooy goal earned the Netherlands a 1-0 victory against Cameroon in a World Cup warm-up game in Rotterdam on Saturday.

Van Nistelrooy fired home the winner in the 22nd minute after neat build-up play involving Philip Cocu and Andre Ooijer.

Cameroon, who had Alioum Saidou sent off for swearing at the referee in the closing minutes, almost levelled shortly before half-time but Edwin Van der Sar produced a stunning reflex save to deny Pierre Webo.

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten was delighted with the man-of-the-match display of Arsenal's Robin van Persie, but admitted his side still had plenty to learn before their World Cup opener against Serbia & Montenegro on June 11.

"In the first half hour we showed how we wanted to play and that it's possible," said Van Basten.

"We played against high calibre opponents and forced them into our game plan and created several chances.

"This style takes a lot of energy and can't be played for 90 minutes so our change of pace could be better. We'll try to use this style at the World Cup. It has to prove if it will work."