Netherlands beats Brazil and heads for semis
The Netherlands today defeated Brazil by 2-1 and qualified for the semi-finals, where they will face Uruguay, winners of their game against Ghana in a penalty shoot-out that will be played July 6th.
Brazilian player in despair against Netherlands
Holland avenged their elimination in 1994 and 1998 by Brazil after being down early, but the “Clockwork Orange” had a magnificent turnaround in the second half with the “precious help” from Felipe Melo who was sent off and was the author of an own goal that helped the Netherlands advance to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Brazil, the five times world champions, scored first by Robinho, with just nine minutes on the clock, after a lovely through ball by Felipe Melo, who was to be expelled at 72 minutes.
The second half showed a more determined Dutch team and at 52 minutes Wesley Sneijder made a dangerous cross into the box where Júlio César the Brazilian keeper tried to sock the ball away but Felipe Melo made an own goal.
The same Wesley Sneijder headed home the winner and completed the turnaround, at 67 minutes after a corner kick from Robben.
This win completed a series of 23 matches without any defeats by the Dutch team and the fifth victory in a row during this 2010 World Cup, reinforcing their status of title contenders in front of a Brazil team that took too long to realize that they were unable to counteract the strength of the totally inspired Dutch team.
The Netherlands will now face Uruguay, the winner of today’s other quarter-final.
Uruguay eliminates Ghana in dramatic turn around
Uruguay, who has won the World Cup on two occasions, reached the semi-finals for the first time since the seventies, after beating Ghana on penalties. The match was marked by a dramatic ending in the overtime period which turned out to be fatal for the African team.
Suarez during Uruguay vs Ghana game
Uruguay dominated the first 25 minutes of the game, but it was Ghana that scored first after a powerful left footed shot from long distance by Muntari.
Uruguay tied the game on 55 minutes when Forlan scored from a masterfully taken free kick from the left, with the trajectory of the ball betraying Ghana goalkeeper Kingson at the second post.
The game ended 1-1 in regular time. During the overtime period, everything could have been resolved at 122 minutes when after a lot of confusion Luis Suarez prevented a goal with his hands, got a red card and Ghana was awarded a penalty.
Gyan failed to make history for Ghana when he missed the penalty, with the ball sliding off the crossbar and landing up in the stands. The game went straight into the penalty shoot-outs after this incredible turn of events.
Then in the lottery of the penalty shoot-outs, the Uruguayan goalkeeper saved two penalties and Abreu calmly chipped the last shot to the despair of a Soccer City stadium that was mostly backing the last of the African teams.
Uruguay will now meet Netherlands, one of the strongest teams in the 2010 World Cup.
