Netherlands stun Brazil 2-1 at World Cup

Associated Press, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Fri, 07/02/2010 11:09 PM | Sports

Toast of victory: Netherlands' Andre Ooijer, center right, and Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder celebrate following their World Cup quarterfinal win over Brazil in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Sneijder scored the winner in the Netherlands’ 2-1 defeat of Brazi on Friday. – AP/Martin Meissner

The Netherlands came from behind to stun five-time champions Brazil 2-1 Friday and become the first semifinalist of the World Cup. 

Wesley Sneijder scored the winner in the 68th minute with a header following a corner kick. 

Robinho had given Brazil the lead in the 10th, but the Netherlands equalized in the 53rd with an own goal from Felipe Melo. 

It was a match of sharp contrasts for Felipe Melo, who set up the opening goal with a brilliant through pass but then was shown a direct red card in the 73rd for stepping on Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, leaving Brazil with 10 men. 

The Netherlands reached the semifinals for the first time since losing to Brazil on penalties at the 1998 World Cup in France and will next face either Uruguay or Ghana. 

Having won all five of their matches so far, the Netherlands extended their team-record unbeaten streak to 24 games, stretching back to a September 2008 loss to Australia. 

Brazil also lost in the quarterfinals four years ago, falling to France 1-0. 

On a warm and pleasant afternoon before a sellout crowd of 42,286 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Brazil dominated the first 45 minutes, but then fell apart. 

Robinho's goal started with a long pass from Felipe Melo through the heart of the Netherlands defense, setting up an easy score for the Santos striker. 

Two minutes before he scored, Robinho had a goal waved off for a close offside call on Brazil's first chance. Buzzing like a bee back and forth between the left wing and the center of Brazil's attack, Robinho started another effort in the 31st that nearly became the most spectacular goal of the tournament. 

Robinho dribbled through three defenders up the left flank then gave the ball to Luis Fabiano, who flicked it back with his heel to Kaka. The playmaker then sent a searing shot to the top right corner of the goal, but Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg timed his leap perfectly to deflect the ball away with one hand. 

The one-goal lead wasn't enough, though, and Brazil began to unravel when Felipe Melo headed the ball into his own net in a mixup with Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar following a cross from Sneijder, who also led Inter Milan to the Champions League title in May. 

Sneijder's goal followed a corner kick from Robben. Dirk Kuyt flicked the ball on with a header by the near post and Sneijder found the target from the center of the area. 

Five minutes later, Felipe Melo walked off the field with his head hung low. 

Brazil had one final chance in the 89th but a free kick from Daniel Alves smacked into a thick Dutch wall.