Edgar Davids scored the Dutch goal with a powerful 10th-minute drive, but was dismissed by English referee Graham Poll for his second bookable offense, leaving the Dutch to battle for the last 17 minutes with a one-man disadvantage.

After scoring the equalizer, Batistuta nearly snatched a winner in the 89th minute with an 18-meter shot that Edwin van der Sar just managed to turn around the post.

The exhibition match at Ajax Amsterdam's Arena stadium was the first time the two teams had met since the Dutch beat Argentina 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinal in Marseille last summer.

And although Argentinean players said before kickoff they were not out for revenge, they began the match at a furious pace, with Batistuta and Ariel Ortega pressing the Dutch defense early on but failing to turn the pressure into a goal.

In the sixth minute, Batistuta robbed Dutch captain Frank de Boer and shot across the face of the goal, but no other Argentine was on hand to provide the finishing touch.

After absorbing the early onslaught the Netherlands scored on almost its first attack.

Patrick Kluivert robbed Roberto Ayala and the ball bounced kindly to Davids who fired an unstoppable 20-meter drive into the top right hand corner of Carlos Roa's goal to make it 1-0.

Argentina had two golden chances to equalize before the break but Juan Veron's 24th-minute shot was parried by Van der Sar and when Batistuta beat the Ajax 'keeper seven minutes later the ball hit the post and bounced back into Van der Sar's arms.

After the break Argentina continued to press forward and its efforts were finally rewarded in the 84th minute when Batistuta appeared unmarked in the box to score his 49th international goal, firing past Van der Sar from close range after a cross from the left wing.

Manchester United defender Jaap Stam was not in the Dutch lineup after injuring an ankle in a training ground tackle with Dutch assistant coach Johan Neeskens.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa used the game as part of his preparations for July's America Cup while the Dutch are warming up for the Euro 2000 finals. As co-hosts with Belgium, the Netherlands does not have to qualify.

Netherlands:
Edwin van der Sar; Michael Reiziger, Kees van Wonderen (Bert Konterman, 45), Frank de Boer, Phillip Cocu, Clarence Seedorf, Boudewijn Zenden, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp (Marc van Hintum, 78), Marc Overmars (Peter van Vossen, 57).

Argentina:
Carlos Roa; Roberto Ayala, Nelson Vivas, Roberto Sensini (Gustavo Lopez, 78), Fernando Redondo, Mauricio Pochettino, Ariel Ortega (Andres Guglielminpietro, 45, Hernan Crespo, 81), Javier Zanetti, Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Veron, Claudio Lopez.