Tuesday July 6, 2010 Semifinal Finished Green Point Stadium

Uruguay 2 - 3 Netherlands

  • Forlán 41’
  • Pereira 90’
  • van Bronckhorst 18’
  • Sneijder 70’
  • Robben 73’

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Match facts: Uruguay v Netherlands

    Match facts: Uruguay v Netherlands

    All the key facts and stats ahead of the first semi-final. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Uruguay
    • Netherlands
    • FT And there's the final whistle! The Netherlands are in the World Cup final!
    • 90+4' Van Bommel is booked.
    • 90+3' There's a sea of blue charing forward as Uruguay search for the equaliser!
    • 90+2' GOAL! Maxi Pereira scores! Is it too late for a dramatic comeback?! Pereira shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection and nestled in the bottom corner.
    • 90+1' Van Bommel and Fernandez clash. Van Bommel, looking to run down the clock, calls on the physio but it's a Uruguay free-kick.
    • 90' Robben is replaced by Eljero Elia.
    • 89' Gargano thinks he's beaten the offside trap but the flag is up.
    • 89' Gargano plays in the corner but, after a little pinball, Kuyt hoofs clear.
    • 88' Corner to Uruguay. What have the got left to offer?
    • 87' Robben really showed how one-footed he is there. He could have unleashed a right-footed shot early but instead could only poke the ball into the grateful arms of Muslera.
    • 86' The Netherlands break with lightning speed and Robben breaks free but can't get his shot away under pressure from Godin. The Bayern man really should have done better there!
    • 84' Substitution for Uruguay: Forlan is replaced by Sebastian Fernandez.
    • 83' Eurosport reader b comments: "Good play....Uruguay dont deserve to be here anyway."
    • 82' Sneijder lifts a beautiful ball over the top to Robben - but, under pressure, he can only manage an air shot from inside the box!
    • 81' Kuyt takes the ball to the corner - surely it's a bit too early for that? Uruguay throw.
    • 80' Robben drives forward down the right channel but lets the ball drift too far in front of him with a poor touch.
    • 79' Uruguay have upped their intensity but have a tough task on their hands penetrating the Dutch back four.
    • 78' Boulahrouz slides on Caceres with his studs showing and is booked for his troubles.
    • 77' Alvaro Pereira is replaced by Sebastian Abreu for Uruguay.
    • 76' Sneijder now has five goals to his name in South Africa.
    • 75' What now for Uruguay? The Dutch are looking to just knock the ball about now.
    • 74' Kuyt was found in acres of space on the left and delivered an expert ball to Robben who, despite being one of the smallest players on the pitch, headed home with pin-point accuracy. Great goal.
    • 73' GOAL! Robben puts the Netherlands in sight of the final!
    • 72' Holland have the wind in their sails now.
    • 71' Van Persie had to jump over the ball there - was he active? Uruguay certainly think so. The Arsenal man was blocking Muslera's view.
    • 70' GOAL! Sneijder scores for the fifth time in the tournament! The Inter man shot from the edge of the box and a deflection takes the ball past Muslera.
    • 70' The game finally looks to be coming to life!
    • 69' Van Persie brings down a long ball expertly and lays off for Van Bommel, whose low shot is well saved by Muslera - and Robben fires the re-bound over!
    • 68' That was a fantastic free-kick from Forlan. He got the ball up and over the wall with perfect precision but Stekelenburg was on his toes.
    • 67' Forlan whips in a fierce shot but Stekelenburg gets down well to palm wide! Great effort!
    • 65' Van Bommel is late on Caceres but gets away without a yellow card. He really should have been booked by now. Still, Uruguay have a dangerous free-kick 25-yards out in the left channel. Forlan is standing over it.
    • 64' Cavani heads the corner clear to avert any danger.
    • 63' The Netherlands win a corner after a decent spell of pressure - this is better from the Oranje.
    • 62' Robben finds space on the right side of the box and lifts a ball to Kuyt on the edge of the area but the Liverpool man gets his volley horribly wrong.
    • 61' Van Bommel's touch is poor but it invites a late challenge from Gargano. Free-kick.
    • 60' Neither side can fashion a chance and, with the stakes to high, there's a real sense that no-one wants to make a mistake.
    • 59' Robben takes the corner but Alvaro Pereira goes down in the down under a challenge from Heitinga and it's a free-kick to Uruguay.
    • 59' Robben tries to trick his way into the box and wins a corner.
    • 58' The Dutch break quickly and find Kuyt on the right but his cross fails to beat the first man.
    • 57' Forlan takes the corner but Stekelenburg punches clear and the shot back into the box is blocked.
    • 57' Corner to Uruguay.
    • 56' Giovanni van Bronckhorst is only the third Dutch captain to score at a World Cup after Johan Cruyff (1974) and Ruud Gullit (1990).
    • 55' Sneijder whips in a teasing free-kick but Mathijsen's backwards header is glanced over.
    • 54' According to optajean on Twitter, the last time Uruguay beat a European team in the World cup was in 1970. Can they end their hoodoo tonight?
    • 53' It was a cagey end to the first half and the start to the second is no different.
    • 53' Henry Winter on Twitter: "Can't believe this is a world cup semi-final & the ground isn't full. Couldn't sell all your tickets? FIFA should have invited local kids"
    • 52' Robben drives forward into the box but is held up by Caceres. Corner.
    • 51' The resulting corner is safely cleared by the Dutch.
    • 50' Boulahrouz is beaten for pace at the back and Stekelenburg has to rush out to clear - but only to Alvaro Pereira, whose long distance effort, with Stekelenburg stranded, is headed clear. Let off for the Dutch!
    • 48' Van Persie picks up the ball midway inside the Uruguay half and attempts to find Sneijder but Alvaro Pereira steals back possession.
    • 47' How will that change affect their play? To be fair to Bert van Marjwik, it's an attacking change.
    • 46' The Netherlands get the second half underway.
    • - The Netherlands are making a substitution. De Zeeuw is replaced by Rafael Van der Vaart.
    • HT Half-time at the Green Point Stadium and it's all square - Uruguay 1-1 Netherlands
    • 45+2' Sneijder whips in an angled cross but Kuyt, going for the diving header, is offside.
    • 45+1' Kuyt lifts a neat ball over the top to Robben but he's dispossessed.
    • 45+1' There will be two minutes of added time.
    • 45' Uruguay have got the wind in their sails and Maxi Pereira drives down the right but, under pressure from the back-tracking Kuyt, puts his attempted cross behind.
    • 44' Forlan goes for goal but Stekelenburg gets his body behind it well to safely catch the shot.
    • 43' Uruguay win a free-kick 30-yards out in the right channel. This is dangerous and Forlan fancies his chances.
    • 42' There's been much talk of the Jabulani ball but Stekelenburg really should have saved that. It was a fierce shot but the Ajax shot stopper flapped at it.
    • 41' GOAL! Diego Forlan fires home his fourth goal of the tournament! The Athletico man picked up the ball 35-yards out and beat his man which a change of direction before lashing a shot past Stekelenburg. The Dutch keeper really should have done better there.
    • 41' Kuyt cuts in from the left wing and fires a low shot goalwards but Muslera easily smothers.
    • 40' Neither side can keep the ball for more than a handful of passes.
    • 40' Van Persie switches play to Sneijder but his pass to Kuyt is too long.
    • 39' Alvaro Pereira exchanges passes with Cavani before firing in a cross but Forlan's glanced header is wide.
    • 37' Uruguay soon win back possession and Pereira looks to make progress down the right but Boulahrouz nips in to put the ball out for a throw.
    • 36' Cavani's foot is high and the referee gives the Netherlands a free-kick in their own half.
    • 35' Sneijder's clearance is a poor one and Cavani picks up the loose ball before driving to the by-line. The Uruguay forward attempts to pull the ball back but it's blocked and safely cleared.
    • 34' Forlan goes down on the halfway line but there's no free-kick. Cavani is fouled seconds later, however, and the referee blows up this time.
    • 33' There's a nasty edge to the game now and it's all become a little scrappy as a result. The Netherlands will be keen to get the ball back on the deck.
    • 32' Cavani goes down in the Dutch box under a fairly low-key challenge from Van Bommel. Minimal contact - no penalty.
    • 31' Van Persie ghosts past his marker superbly and plays in Robben on the top of the box but he can't collect the ball without committing a foul. Wonderful stuff from van Persie.
    • 30' Back to the football after all that.
    • 29' Caceres is booked for his high challenge on De Zeeuw, who got a boot in the face. Sneijder also receives a yellow card for pushing Caceres in the aftermath.
    • 28' The corner is headed clear to the edge of the box. De Zeeuw is on the end of a high challenge and the referee blows up for a free-kick. Hold on, there's a few handbags here - did the referee get a good look at what happened?
    • 27' Heitinga heads clear to give away a cheap corner.
    • 27' Perez looks to release Cavani on the right but the ball is a little too long and Mathijsen slides in to put the ball out for a throw.
    • 26' Van Bommel dodges two challenges, in his own half, but is eventually brought down by Gargano to win a free-kick.
    • 25' The Netherlands are looking very comfortable in possession and are happy to knock the ball around to the frustration of Uruguay.
    • 24' The Dutch captain will retire from international football after this tournament. What a way to go out if he can lift the trophy on July 11.
    • 23' Van Bronckhorst is making his 105th appearance for his country tonight and that was his sixth goal.
    • 22' Robben's free-kick is a poor one and Uruguay finally get the ball out of their own half.
    • 21' Robben's corner is headed clear and the Bayern Munich man looks to bring the ball down again on the right but is brought down from behind by Maxi Pereira. Yellow card.
    • 21' Robben whips in the corner and its headed behind for another.
    • 20' van Persie wins a corner as the Dutch press for a quick second.
    • 19' What possessed Van Bronckhorst to have a shot from there? Goal of the tournament - no doubt about that!
    • 18' GOAL! Van Bronckhorst picks up the ball after a long spell of Dutch possession and unleashes an unstoppable shot from 35-yards into the top corner! What a goal!
    • 17' Needless to say, Robin van Persie soon sparks an attack into life and drives into the box from the left wing but is dispossessed. Arsenal hit man van Persie then fouls to hand Uruguay a free-kick.
    • 16' The Netherlands have played with uncharacteristic restraint throughout this tournament and are happy to keep the ball at the moment.
    • 15' Maxi Pereira drives forward from right back but takes on a little too much on his own and allows the Netherlands to clear.
    • 14' Cavani, lively thus far, turns on the left corner of the Dutch box and floats a ball to Forlan at the back post but the former Manchester United man is offside.
    • 13' Uruguay look vulnerable in the air when crosses are fired into the box and only half clear to Sneijder whose goal-bound shot is expertly blocked - by team-mate Robin van Persie!
    • 12' Cavani breaks free through the middle but the flags up. Replays show he wasn't offside!
    • 11' Forlan picks up a loose ball midway inside the Dutch half and attempts to feed in Cavani but the duo aren't on the same wavelength.
    • 10' Kuyt finds space on the left and sends a ball into the box which is too high for van Persie. The Liverpool man regains possession on the wing and delivers a beautiful cross which is spooned up into the air and before leanding in the grateful arms of Uruguay keeper Muslera.
    • 9' Uruguay win a corner on the halfway line. Caceres sends a long ball forward to Forlan but the forward man is beaten to it and the Netherlands clear.
    • 8' Uruguay are South America's only remaining contender in South Africa - despite having a population of just 3.5 million.
    • 7' Alvaro Pereira launches an audacious effort from near the halfway line but Stekelenburg watches it sail comfortably over.
    • 6' Forlan and the suspended Suarez have both scored three goals thus far while Sneijder has bagged four for the Oranje.
    • 5' Robin van Persie wins his 50th cap for the Netherlands tonight.
    • 4' Robben breaks down the left and feeds the ball to Sneijder, whose cross is tamely punched clear by Muslera into the path of Kuyt but the Liverpool man fires over!
    • 3' Forlan collects the ball in the left channel and looks to drift past Mathijsen but the Dutch defender slides in with a perfectly timed tackle.
    • 2' Mathijsen hoofs clear to clear the Dutch lines and hand Uruguay a throw which Maxi Pereira will take.
    • 1' Pereira wins an early free-kick wide left after being fouled by Van Bommel.
    • 1' And we're off! Uruguay get this FIFA World Cup 2010 semi-final underway...
    • 19:28 The atmosphere is building in the Green Point Stadium and these Oranje fans are backing the Dutch to go all the way. Photo
    • 19:25 Remember, all previous yellow cards were wiped after the quarter-finals, so no players will miss the final if booked tonight. No Paul Gascoigne tears, then.
    • 19:23 Here comes the team! National anthems to follow shortly.
    • 19:20 Uruguay's two World Cup victories came in the inaugural tournament in 1930 and 20 years later in 1950. The last time they reached the semi-final was in 1970, where they were eliminated by Brazil. The Dutch, despite being masters of total football, have never lifted the trophy, suffering defeat in the final to West Germany and Argentina in 1974 and 1978 respectively.
    • 19:15 These two have met just once previously at the World Cup, when the Netherlands, who went on to reach the final, beat Uruguay 2-0 in the group stages in 1971. Pablo Forlan was in the Uruguay team that day - tonight the baton is passed to his son, Diego.
    • 19:10 Eurosport pundit and record Dutch goalscorer Patrick Kluivert believes his countrymen have to keep their mental focus if they are to triumph tonight. Full story
    • 19:05 Fancy a flutter? BET now on the World Cup.
    • 19:00 The Netherlands go in to this fixture as favourites having overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit to defeat Brazil 2-1 in the previous round, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has warned the Dutch that there are no easy games at this stage. Wenger: Dutch need to be careful
    • 18:55 Four changes for Uruguay: Diego Godin returns to central defence in place of the injured Lugano, while Martin Caceres makes his first appearance of the finals by coming in at left back in place of the suspended Fucile. With striker Luis Suarez for that handball against Ghana, coach Oscar Tabarez has opted to reinforce the midfield with Walter Gargano and bring back Alvaro Pereira while fielding a two-man attack of Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani.
    • 18:50 The Dutch have made three changes: Khalid Boulahrouz replaces van der Wiel in the back line while Ajax youngster Demy de Zeeuw will stand in for de Jong in midfield. Joris Mathijsen returns to the centre of the Dutch defence in place of Andre Ooijer after missing the quarter-final win over Brazil with a knee injury. More good news for Oranje fans - Robin van Persie has shaken off his injury and starts.
    • 18:45 Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong are suspended for the Netherlands, while Jorge Fucile and, of course, Luis Suarez sit out for Uruguay.
    • 18:40 Uruguay captain Diego Lugano has lost his fitness battle and misses out tonight. The Fenerbahce defender limped out of his country's penalty shoot-out win over Ghana after just 38 minutes with a knee injury.
    • 18:35 Here's how they'll line-up:
    • URUGUAY: 1-Fernando Muslera; 3-Diego Godin, 6-Mauricio Victorino, 5-Walter Gargano, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 22-Martin Caceres, 15-Diego Perez, 11-Alvaro Pereira, 17-Egidio Arevalo, 7-Edinson Cavani, 10-Diego Forlan.
    • NETHERLANDS: 1-Maarten Stekelenburg; 12-Khalid Boulahrouz, 3-John Heitinga, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 7-Dirk Kuyt, 6-Mark van Bommel, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 14-Demy de Zeeuw, 11-Arjen Robben; 9-Robin van Persie.
    • And the referee is Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan.
    • 18:30 Two-time champions Uruguay take on two-time runners-up the Netherlands in the first World Cup semi-final at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.
  • Summary

    • 90+2' GOAL! Maxi Pereira scores! Is it too late for a dramatic comeback?! Pereira shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection and nestled in the bottom corner.
    • 86' The Netherlands break with lightning speed and Robben breaks free but can't get his shot away under pressure from Godin. The Bayern man really should have done better there!
    • 74' Kuyt was found in acres of space on the left and delivered an expert ball to Robben who, despite being one of the smallest players on the pitch, headed home with pin-point accuracy. Great goal.
    • 73' GOAL! Robben puts the Netherlands in sight of the final!
    • 70' GOAL! Sneijder scores for the fifth time in the tournament! The Inter man shot from the edge of the box and a deflection takes the ball past Muslera.
    • 69' Van Persie brings down a long ball expertly and lays off for Van Bommel, whose low shot is well saved by Muslera - and Robben fires the re-bound over!
    • 67' Forlan whips in a fierce shot but Stekelenburg gets down well to palm wide! Great effort!
    • 62' Robben finds space on the right side of the box and lifts a ball to Kuyt on the edge of the area but the Liverpool man gets his volley horribly wrong.
    • 50' Boulahrouz is beaten for pace at the back and Stekelenburg has to rush out to clear - but only to Alvaro Pereira, whose long distance effort, with Stekelenburg stranded, is headed clear. Let off for the Dutch!
    • 41' GOAL! Diego Forlan fires home his fourth goal of the tournament! The Athletico man picked up the ball 35-yards out and beat his man which a change of direction before lashing a shot past Stekelenburg. The Dutch keeper really should have done better there.
    • 18' GOAL! Van Bronckhorst picks up the ball after a long spell of Dutch possession and unleashes an unstoppable shot from 35-yards into the top corner! What a goal!
    • 13' Uruguay look vulnerable in the air when crosses are fired into the box and only half clear to Sneijder whose goal-bound shot is expertly blocked - by team-mate Robin van Persie!
    • 4' Robben breaks down the left and feeds the ball to Sneijder, whose cross is tamely punched clear by Muslera into the path of Kuyt but the Liverpool man fires over!
    • URUGUAY: 1-Fernando Muslera; 3-Diego Godin, 6-Mauricio Victorino, 5-Walter Gargano, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 22-Martin Caceres, 15-Diego Perez, 11-Alvaro Pereira, 17-Egidio Arevalo, 7-Edinson Cavani, 10-Diego Forlan.
    • NETHERLANDS: 1-Maarten Stekelenburg; 12-Khalid Boulahrouz, 3-John Heitinga, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 7-Dirk Kuyt, 6-Mark van Bommel, 10-Wesley Sneijder, 14-Demy de Zeeuw, 11-Arjen Robben; 9-Robin van Persie.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Goal Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out78′ - -
      Strikers
      - -
      Goal Substitution Out84′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ - -
      Substitution In84′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      10 -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 10 -
      10 -
      10 -
      Goal 10 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 10 -
      Substitution Out45′ 10 -
      Goal Substitution Out90′ 10 -
      Goal Yellow Card 10 -
      10 -
      Strikers
      10 -
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ 10 -
      Substitution In90′ 10 -

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account