Wednesday July 7, 2010
On Wednesday, after a 3-2 victory over Uruguay with two quick strikes in the second half sealing their win in Cape Town, the Netherlands qualifies for the third World Cup final. In the first semifinal which was dull and drab for most part except for the last quarter captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst scored a super goal in the 18th minute before Wesley Sneijder (70th ) and Arjen Robben (73rd ) struck in quick succession for the Dutch.
At the Green Point Stadium, Diego Forlan (41st), who wore the captain’s arm band in the absence of Diego Lugano, and Maximiliano Pereira (90+2), scored for Uruguay. In the grand finale in Johannesburg on July 11, the ‘Oranje’ who have won all their earlier matches en route to the semifinal, will take on either Germany or Spain in their only third World Cup final after 1974 and 1978. After 60 years their 1950 triumph Uruguay were seeking their first final. Sneijder Dutch midfielder notched fifth goal of the tournament. He now equals the other two Golden Boot competitors David Villa of Spain and Miroslav Klose on Germany. With few scoring chances the first half was more of a battle of midfield domination but for two long rangers, each captain made one and kept scoreline level at 1-1.
With Dirk Kyut the Netherlands set the pace of the match. In the 18th minute Bronckhorst scored his first goal of the tournament with a stunning left-footer from approximately thirty meters, out of nowhere. Except for the three goals in the second period the next half was still without much spark. Sneijder’s shot slipped through Maxi Pereira’s legs and the slight deflection gave Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera no chance to stop it from entering into the net, in the 70th minute. Dirk Kuyt, three minutes later cut into the left side and his cross into the Uruguay box was met by a fabulous Robben header, directing it into the net to make it 3-1.
