Favourites Brazil have been dumped out of the World Cup by a lucky Holland, who came from a goal down to beat them 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
The portents did not look good for the Dutch. As they warmed up, Joris Mathijsen was substituted at the last minute by André Oijer after he endured a knee injury. The Dutch were definitely the underdogs in the first half and went into the second half one nil down. But a goal from nowhere put the Orange team back in the game and with renewed confindence Bert van Marwijk's team upped the stakes by scoring a second goal.
Shortly after kick off, it soon became apparent which team was stronger. The Brazilian team, dressed in a blue strip, rather than their usual yellow, went straight into the attack. Dani Alves was offside by just inches when he passed the ball to Robinho to put the ball in the goal in the opening minutes. But it did not matter, only ten minutes into the match Robinho had scored from 20 yards out after taking a pass from Felipe Melo on the halfway line.
Minutes later an attempt by Dirk Kuijt to score the equalizer is foiled by Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar.
As temperatures soar in the Netherlands, it seems that tempers are soaring in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Before the first half is over Japanese referee Nichimura has dished out two yellow cards. One to John Heitinga for fouling Luis Fabiano and later for Michel Bastos for fouling Arjen Robben.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, the first Dutch goal comes from nowhere. No-one saw this one coming, as Arjen Robben passes to Wesley Sneijder who shoots it in the direction of the goal and the ball bounces off Felipe Melo’s head into the net.
The Dutch appear to have regained their confidence and in the 68th minute, a corner by Robben is passed by Dirk Kuijt to Wesley Sneijder, who heads the ball into the net and the score is 2-1.
With the Dutch in the lead, the pressure on the ‘canaries’ in blue. Felipe Melo loses his cool and tackles Arjen Robben to the ground giving him an extra kick when he is down. The referee doesn't hesitate and sends him off. Brazil are forced to play on with ten men and lose.
In the semi-finals Holland will meet the winners of Friday's quarter-final in Johannesburg between Uruguay and Ghana.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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Celebrations in my news room.
I am proud of their brilliant outing.
go for the gold.
congratulations RNTC family.
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