The Netherlands stuttered their way to an unconvincing 3-1 victory over the 10 men of Kazakhstan to record their first Group A win in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Holland's forward Ibrahim Afellay celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying match between the Netherlands and Kazakhstan in Amsterdam, on October 10, 2014 © Getty Images

Robin van Persie thought he had put the home side ahead after 12 minutes when he pounced to slip home after an initial shot was fumbled, but the linesman's flag was raised before the Dutch skipper had even touched the ball.

The visitors spent the majority of the half defending stoutly on the edge of their own box and had barely touched the ball before they took the lead with their first effort of the evening.

In the 16th minute, Renat Abdulin stooped to meet Andrei Karpovich's outswinging corner with a diving header, which shuddered the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line.

Kazakhstan's players celebrate after Renat Abdulin scored during the Euro 2016 qualifying match between the Netherlands and Kazakhstan in Amsterdam, on October 10, 2014 © Getty Images

Van Persie almost responded immediately with a clever, flicked header, but it nestled on the roof of the net.

For all their attacking flair, the Oranje struggled to carve open any clear-cut opportunities and the crowd became increasingly restless as half time approached.

Arjen Robben seemed to be the most likely source of a goal, but his jinking runs were smothered by a mass of Kazakhstan bodies and his only clear sight of goal in the first period saw him blaze a wayward shot high and wide.

Four minutes before the break, Gregory van der Wiel escaped down the right flank, and his low cross flashed across the face of goal, but Jeremain Lens skewed his shot horribly wide from a tight angle.

Ibrahim Afellay had the home side's first sight of goal in the second period, but after some intricate build-up play, the midfielder sliced his shot wide of the mark from 20 yards.

Van Persie was the next player to go close, but he lashed a low shot wide when through on goal.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar was introduced in the 55th minute, and it took the forward just seven minutes to level the scores, as he powered a header into the bottom corner from 12 yards, but replays showed that the forward was in an offside position from Afellay's deep cross.

Shortly after conceding, Kazakhstan's evening became worse when Baurzhan Dzholchiyev was shown a straight red card for a cynical lunge on Afellay from behind, which left the Dutch midfielder in agony.

Robben clattered the bar with a powerful free kick as the second half wore on, before Afellay released all the tension inside the Amsterdam ArenA with a deflected drive from 20 yards on his fist Oranje start in almost two years.

Having chased the ball all evening, Kazakhstan were unable to mount a late comeback and van Persie netted a late penalty as Guus Hiddink recorded his first win in his second spell in charge of his country.