Netherlands Upstage Brazil as African Hope Dies

Published : July 03, 2010 :: 15:07:39 [ 1,396 views ]

The Netherlands upstaged five times World Cup winners Brazil in an entertaining encounter in Port Elizabeth as Ghana suffered the heartbreaking situation of an exit from the competition via penalties against Uruguay.

South Africa, the 2^nd of July 2010 [PDN]: Five time world champions Brazil exited the 2010 World Cup at the quarterfinals stage after succumbing to a resurgent Dutch team. So shocking was the nature of the loss, having gone a goal up early on in the match, one Brazilian fan has reportedly committed suicide in Haiti over the result, jumping in front of a car.

Robinho gave Brazil an early 10th minute lead with an impressive bit of skill before a Felipe Melo own goal and somewhat of a goalkeeping error gifted the Dutch an equaliser shortly after the interval. Spurred on by the goal and possibly a half-time dressing down by their coach, Holland took a lead that they never relinquished via a Wesley Sneijder header of a 68^th minute corner.

Uruguay beat Ghana 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarterfinal that was punctuated by Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty in the final minuted of extra-time. The South Americans will now go through to meet the Netherlands in the Semi-Final whilst the African hope makes their way home following a determined campaign.

Ghana went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Sulley Muntari smashed home a shot from 30 yards that deviated a mile before nestling in the net beyond the floundering Muslera. Uruguay found a much sort after equaliser through a superbly struck 25-yard free kick from Diego Forlan shortly after half time.

Gyan then had the opportunity to break the deadlock in the final minute of extra-time when Luis Suarez was sent off for handling Dominic Adiyiah’s header on the goal line, he ultimately struck his shot off the bar and the Ghanaians went on to lose 4-2 in the dreaded penalty shootout.

Tonight sees two blockbuster matches in Argentina v Germany followed by Paraguay v Spain.