Shockwork Oranje

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

The Netherlands came from behind to stun five-time champion Brazil 2-1 Friday and become the first semi-finalist of the World Cup. Wesley Sneijder scored the winner in the 68th minute with a header following a corner kick.

It just slipped through from my bald head and it was a great feeling, Sneijder said. It was the Netherlands first win over Brazil since the 1974 World Cup,when Johan Cruyff was the teams star and total football reigned. It was an amazing game. I think we showed the whole world how we can play, Sneijder said. Finally we won,we beat Brazil.

Robinho had given Brazil the lead in the 10th,but the Netherlands equalised in the 53rd with an own goal from Felipe Melo. We had two players going for the same ball and what happened,happened, Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar said of the equaliser.

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 its team-record unbeaten streak to 24 games,stretching back to a September 2008 loss to Australia.

The Netherlands reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but lost both to Germany and Argentina,respectively and its only major tournament victory was the 1988 European Championship. The Dutch will be favoured against either Uruguay or Ghana in the semi-finals. Brazil also lost in the quarterfinals four years ago,falling to France 1-0.

Dunga was hired to coach the team after that loss despite no previous managerial experience. We didnt expect this, Dunga said. We know that any World Cup match is about 90 minutes. In the first half we were able to play better and we werent able to maintain that rhythm in the second half. Dunga immediately accepted blame for the loss. Without a shadow of a doubt,I am the coach of the Brazilian team, he said. I have the greatest responsibility.

Robinhos half

Brazil dominated the first 45 minutes,then fell apart. Robinhos 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 Brazils first chance.

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The one-goal lead wasnt enough,though,and Brazil began to unravel when Felipe Melo headed the ball into his own net in a mixup with Julio Cesar following a cross from Sneijder.

We could have lost it in the first 15 minutes, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. At halftime,I made it very clear to the players. I told them time and time again,You have to play your own game. You have to have patience against Brazil. When the goal was scored,we just got better and better.

Sneijders 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. I think if he looked carefully,he would be ashamed,ashamed for Brazilian football, Van Marwijk said of Melo.

Brazil had one final chance in the 89th but a free kick from Daniel Alves smacked into a thick Dutch wall. The first half was really difficult for us. We were 1-0 behind,a great save by our goalkeeper on Kaka kept us there, Sneijder said.