Holland caused a major shock by rallying from a goal down at half time to triumph 2-1 against the favourites Brazil who ended with ten men. HOL: 2 BRA: 1
Venue: Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Crowd: 40,186 Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan) Assistants: Toru Sagara (Japan) and Jeong Hae-sang (South Korea) Fourth: Khalil Al-Ghamdi Yellow cards:HOL - Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Ooijer, De Jong BRA - Bastos
Red cards: Melo (Brazil) MATCH REPORT The old cliché of a game of two halves was never more appropriate than this clash between Holland and Brazil.
At half time Brazil looked comfortable and on course to end Holland's 23 game unbeaten sequence, but the Dutch were inspired in the second 45 minutes helped by the dismissal of Felipe Melo for a reckless tackle on Arjen Robben.
The Samba merchants looked shaky at the back and lost their discipline and in doing so crashed out at the quarter-final stage for the second successive tournament.
It looked so different earlier as Robinho had an early effort disallowed for offside, but the Dutch failed to heed the warning and on 10 minutes the Manchester City star was played through by Melo who calmly finished past Maarten Stekelenburg.
Brazil continued to look the more dangerous going forward and secure at the back, but then came the interval and a dramatic Holland turnaround.
There was touch of fortune about the equaliser on 53 minutes. Wesley Sneijder's hopeful cross was headed past his own keeper by Melo.
Holland took heart from this whilst Brazil wilted and Sneijder got the vital second on 68 minutes taking advantage of some sloppy defending for a simple headed goal from close range
Five minutes later and Melo saw red. Holland should have rapped the game up but Brazil also had their moments but overall the Dutch were good value for their semi-final berth simply because of their stunning performance in the second half. Starting Line-Ups
HOL
1. Maarten Stekelenburg 2. Gregory Van Der Wiel 3. Johnny Heitinga 13. Andre Ooijer 5. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst 6. Mark Van Bommel 8. Nigel De Jong 11. Arjen Robben 10. Wesley Sneijder 7. Dirk Kuyt 9. Robin van Persie (Huntelaar 85) SUBS
16. Michel Vorm (GK) 12. Khalid Boulahrouz 14. Demy De Zeeuw 15. Edson Braafheid 17. Eljero Elia 18. Stijn Schaars 19. Ryan Babel 20. Ibrahim Afellay 21. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 23. Rafael Van der Vaart 22. Sander Boschker (GK) BRA
1. Soares Julio Cesar 2. Sisenando Maicon 3. Ferreira Lucio 4. Silveira Juan 6. Fernandes Michel Bastos (Gilberto 62) 13. da Silva Dani Alves 5. De Carvalho Felipe Melo 8. Gilberto Silva 10. Ricardo Kaka 11. De Souza Robinho 9. Clemente Luis Fabiano (Nilmar 77)
SUBS
12. Heurelho Gomes (GK) 14. Anderson Luisao 15. Emiliano Thiago Silva 16. Da Silva Gilberto 17. Anunciado Josue 19. Cesar Julio Baptista 20. Jose Kleberson 21. Honorato da Silva 23. Libano Batista Grafite 22. Alexander Doni (GK)
