Dutch turn on style to stun Brazil
Source: Agencies |
July 3, 2010, Saturday
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Wesley Sneijder headed a second-half winner as Netherlands battled back from a goal down to beat ten-man Brazil 2-1 yesterday and secure a place in the World Cup semifinals.
Brazil, the five-time champion, took a 10th minute lead through Robinho and dominated the first-half against a Dutch team which initially looked outclassed.
But the Dutch levelled out of the blue in the 53rd minute after a rare mistake from Brazil's usually impenetrable defense as Felipe Melo headed Sneijder's cross into his own goal.
Then Sneijder headed in the winner as the Dutch, battling to their 13th successive World Cup win to maintain a perfect record in the qualifiers and finals, avenged a quarterfinal defeat in 1994 and a semifinal defeat four years later.
"In the changing room at half-time, everyone said to each other 'let's give everything' and that's what we did. We fought for each other," Sneijder said after the match.
"In the second half, we put a lot of pressure on their defense and to score twice was fantastic," he said.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said the comeback showed how mentally strong his team were.
"In the first 20 minutes, I was happy that the score was only 1-0, and I told Frank (assistant Frank de Boer) that we still have a chance. In the second half we showed how good we are," he said. "Tonight we're going to party and then start and fight again."
Brazil had started brightly with Felipe Melo, returning from an ankle injury, setting up the first goal after 10 minutes of the clash. He threaded a 30-meter pass through the Dutch midfield and Robinho timed his run perfectly to score with a first-time shot past Maarten Stekelenburg.
The Dutch rarely threatened with Arjen Robben far too predictable to outfox the Brazil rearguard. But they levelled out of the blue eight minutes after the break when Melo touched Sneijder's looping cross-shot into his own net.
In the 68th minute Dirk Kuyt flicked a Robben's corner at the near post and Sneijder headed into the net.
Shortly afterwards, Felipe Melo was sent off for stamping on Robben.
Brazil, the five-time champion, took a 10th minute lead through Robinho and dominated the first-half against a Dutch team which initially looked outclassed.
But the Dutch levelled out of the blue in the 53rd minute after a rare mistake from Brazil's usually impenetrable defense as Felipe Melo headed Sneijder's cross into his own goal.
Then Sneijder headed in the winner as the Dutch, battling to their 13th successive World Cup win to maintain a perfect record in the qualifiers and finals, avenged a quarterfinal defeat in 1994 and a semifinal defeat four years later.
"In the changing room at half-time, everyone said to each other 'let's give everything' and that's what we did. We fought for each other," Sneijder said after the match.
"In the second half, we put a lot of pressure on their defense and to score twice was fantastic," he said.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said the comeback showed how mentally strong his team were.
"In the first 20 minutes, I was happy that the score was only 1-0, and I told Frank (assistant Frank de Boer) that we still have a chance. In the second half we showed how good we are," he said. "Tonight we're going to party and then start and fight again."
Brazil had started brightly with Felipe Melo, returning from an ankle injury, setting up the first goal after 10 minutes of the clash. He threaded a 30-meter pass through the Dutch midfield and Robinho timed his run perfectly to score with a first-time shot past Maarten Stekelenburg.
The Dutch rarely threatened with Arjen Robben far too predictable to outfox the Brazil rearguard. But they levelled out of the blue eight minutes after the break when Melo touched Sneijder's looping cross-shot into his own net.
In the 68th minute Dirk Kuyt flicked a Robben's corner at the near post and Sneijder headed into the net.
Shortly afterwards, Felipe Melo was sent off for stamping on Robben.
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