Netherlands Stuns Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup

[Dirty]

Sneijder's goal in 68th minute decisive; Brazil unravels in second half


VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Netherlands Stuns Brazil With 2-1 Win
• Netherlands March Into The Semifinals

Scoring Summary

Netherlands	Brazil
Felipe Melo (og 53')	Robinho (10')
Wesley Sneijder (68')

Match Stats


Netherlands
Brazil

10(4)	Shots (on Goal)	15(4)
20	Fouls	20
4	Corner Kicks	8
2	Offsides	2
51%	Time of Possession	49%
4	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	1
3	Saves	3

Match Information

Stadium:	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Attendance:
Match Time:	10:00 ET
Official(s):	Yuichi Nishimura

739280

Teams

Netherlands	Brazil
1 Maarten Stekelenburg	1 Júlio César
13 Andre Ooijer	4 Juan
3 John Heitinga	3 Lúcio
5 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst	6 Michel Bastos
2 Gregory Van Der Wiel	2 Maicon
8 Nigel De Jong	5 Felipe Melo
6 Mark Van Bommel	8 Gilberto Silva
9 Robin Van Persie	9 Luis Fabiano
10 Wesley Sneijder	10 Kaká
7 Dirk Kuyt	11 Robinho
11 Arjen Robben	13 Dani Alves
Substitutes
23 Rafael Van der Vaart	Júlio Baptista 19
22 Sander Boschker	Nilmar 21
12 Khalid Boulahrouz	Josué 17
16 Michel Vorm	Elano 7
21 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar	Gilberto Melo 16
18 Stijn Schaars	Gomes 12
14 Demy De Zeeuw	Luisão 14
15 Edson Braafheid	Doni 22
19 Ryan Babel	Grafite 23
17 Eljero Elia	Kléberson 20
20 Ibrahim Afellay	Thiago Silva 15
4 Joris Mathijsen
Substitutions
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for Robin Van Persie (85)	Gilberto Melo for Michel Bastos (62)
	Nilmar for Luis Fabiano (77)
Yellow Cards
John Heitinga (14)	Michel Bastos (37)
Gregory Van Der Wiel (47)
Nigel De Jong (64)
Andre Ooijer (76)
Red Cards
	Felipe Melo (73)
· Rosters: Netherlands | Brazil

Associated Press
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa -- Soccer's perennial World Cup underachievers from the Netherlands knocked off mighty Brazil on Friday, stamping the Dutch as a strong contender to finally win that elusive title.
Wesley Sneijder, one of the shortest players on the field, scored in the 68th minute on a header for a stunning 2-1 quarterfinals win over the five-time champions."It just slipped through from my bald head and it was a great feeling," Sneijder said.Brazil, which also went out in this round four years ago against France, lost its composure after falling behind, and defender Felipe Melo was ejected in the 73rd minute for stomping on the leg of Arjen Robben.The Dutch made the championship match in 1974 and '78, lost both, and rarely have lived up to their talent in other World Cups. They did this time, helped by an own goal off the head of unfortunate Felipe Melo that brought them into a 1-1 tie in the 53rd.Robinho gave the Brazilians the lead on Felipe Melo's brilliant low pass up the middle of the field that the striker put home with a low shot.But soon, the Dutch took control, and the end of the match presented the unusual sight of the Brazilians scrambling wildly to find an equalizer.It never came.Instead, it was the Oranje and their fans doing the dancing.The majority of the fans inside the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium were clad in Brazilian yellow -- even though the team wore blue Friday. Many of the fans were wearing South Africa jerseys of the same color, though.But long after the match ended, the only fans remaining were orange-shirted Netherlands supporters, waving their country's red-white-and-blue flags and chanting "Oranje.""It was an amazing game. I think we showed the whole world how we can play," Sneijder said. "Finally we won, we beat Brazil."After scoring, Sneijder sprinted around the field, tapping the front of his head, then ran to a TV camera and tapped the lens. He was in the middle of all the postgame celebrating, too, as his teammates swarmed him when the final whistle blew.A few yards away, several Brazilian players lay on the turf, bewildered and beaten.The Netherlands reached the semifinals for the first time since losing to Brazil on penalty kicks at the 1998 World Cup, and will next face either Uruguay or Ghana, which plays later Friday.Having won all five matches so far, the Netherlands extended its team-record unbeaten streak to 24 games, stretching back to a September 2008 loss to Australia.On a warm afternoon before a sellout crowd of 42,286 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Brazil dominated the first 45 minutes, then fell apart. Before the Dutch comeback, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg timed his leap perfectly to deflect a shot by Kaka that was headed into the right corner of the net.The one-goal lead wasn't enough. Brazil began to unravel when Felipe Melo jumped in front of keeper Julio Cesar and inadvertently headed the ball into his net.Sneijder's goal followed a corner kick from Robben. Dirk Kuyt flicked the ball with his head to Sneijder in the middle of the 6-yard box and he rose high enough to deflect it into the left corner of the goal.


World Cup Match Results: Netherlands vs Brazil - FIFA World Cup 2010 - ESPN Soccernet

[juuso]

Way to go Holland!

[Dirty]

I watched a little of it early on but Brazil was playing good

[juuso]

Brazil was in control 1st half, but lost their concentration after Dutch equalizing goal in the 2nd.

[The Devil]

ARGENTINA MUST MOVE INTO THE FAVORITES POSITION NOW...........

[juuso]

Spain is definitely the fave to take it all. They were arguably the best team in the tournament to begin with.
They meet Paraguay next round, when Argentina has to play Germany. I'm expecting a tough game for Argies. Close to a coin flip, so there's plenty of value on Germany. Germany plays more structured and disciplined game. Argentina has more individual talent up-front, but Maradona is total headcase as a coach and will be tactically overmatched.

[juuso]

Germany just beat Argentina 4-0.

made some money taking them as a dog.

Spain-Germany will be probable matchup in semifinals. Should be a great match.

[Dirty]

ARgentina just got smoked

[juuso]

People are pounding Spain -1. Line was even yesterday.

I'm considering taking Paraguay +1 +122, possibly Paraguay +1.5 if I can find it at decent price. Spain should win, but this could be a close game. Overtime is not out of the question.

[Dirty]

Good stuff juuso... i know nothing about soccer

[THE HITMAN]

Might put and end to the recent ongoing argument that the black players are the best

[Dirty]

This world cup sure has been full of surprises