World Cup 2010 Quarter-Final: Netherlands 2-1 Brazil

Updated: 02 Jul, 2010 • 0 • min read

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Five-time world champions Brazil crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage after losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in Port Elizabeth.

Brazil made the better start and took a deserved lead in the 10th minute when Felipe Melo slid a ball through the Dutch defence for Robinho to run onto and confidently slip past Maarten Stekelenburg.

But disaster was to strike for Brazil eight minutes into the second half as Júlio César made a complete hash of his attempt to punch Wesley Sneijder's cross clear with the ball deflecting off Melo and into his own net.

Sneijder then sent the Dutch supporters into raptures in the 68th minute when he headed his side in front after Dirk Kuyt had flicked on an Arjen Robben corner.

Things went from bad to worse five minutes later when Melo was shown a straight red card for a rash, petulant and frankly stupid stamp on Robben.

The Oranje held on easily against the 10 men, and now face Uruguay or Ghana in Cape Town on Tuesday for a place in the final.

Lineups:

Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Andre Ooijer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong; Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt; Robin van Persie (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 85)

Brazil: Júlio César; Maicon, Lúcio, Juan, Michel Bastos (Gilberto, 62); Daniel Alves, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo; Kaká, Robinho; Luís Fabiano (Nilmar, 77)

Statistics: