FULL TIME - Match #57 (QUARTER - FINAL #1) -
NETHERLANDS - 2
(Melo *OG* 53')
(Sneijder 68')
BRAZIL - 1
(Robinho 10')
What a cracker of a match we just witnessed! And nobody, I dare say not even the Dutch team themselves, would have predicted that Brazil would be beaten in this match.
But the Dutch did it. Brazil are OUT of WC 2010.
The half-time did some sort of wonders to the Dutch team. They came out all guns blazing and persistently hammered away at the Brazilian goal, and eventually the Brazil defense cracked.
A terrible, terrible mis-communication and mistake between Melo and Cesar the GK resulted in both going for the ball when it had been curled in by Sneijder, and before Cesar could grab it, the ball deflected off Melo's shoulder and headed straight into the Brazilian goal. 1 - 1.
That gave a real shot in the arms to the Dutch forwards. They pressed on repeatedly and complimented by plenty of lapses by both the Brazilian forwards and defenders, won a very crucial corner on the far side. The ball was curled in and Sneijder coolly headed the ball in. The score read 2 - 1.
That rattled the Brazilians no end. It was a pretty hot-tempered match from the beginning, and it suddenly became a ill-tempered one too.
Melo kicked out viciously at Robben's thigh and got red carded. Brazil's troubles worsened as they were reduced to 10 men, and they still needed the equaliser to force Extra Time.
In the end, it has to be said that Brazil lost their cool and their minds to play competitive football during the last 20 minutes. They kept losing the ball repeatedly and even a series of corner hits by Maicon and Dani Alves couldn't result in the equaliser. Robinho, Kaka and the substitute Nilmar could do nothing through the final minutes and when the final whistle sounded, it was HUGE celebrations time for the Netherlands.
Bitter disappointment for Brazil. WC 2006 had seen them lose to France in the Quarters, and here they were knocked out in the Quarters yet again. They will go back home with heads bowed, a proud team letting their hot tempers get the better of their exceptional football skills.
Netherlands should be really, REALLY hyped and super-charged now. By beating the #1 team in the world, they must be having the World Cup in their sights. The confidence that they can beat the best in the world will rub through their entire team, and they will be raring to take on any teams left.