Dutch to face Uruguay in 'semi' as Brazil, Ghana go down

WORLD CUP: JOHANNESBURG, July 3, 2010: Holland and Uruguay will clash for a World Cup final place after Brazil and Ghana saw their African dreams shattered on a day of quarter-final heartbreakers.

Wesley Sneijder was the star for the Dutch and Felipe Melo the Brazilian villain as Netherlands came from behind to edge five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in Port Elizabeth.

Sneijder delivered the cross that Melo headed into his own net on 53 minutes and the midfielder was given time and space in a packed goalmouth to head the winner a quarter of an hour later.

Juventus midfielder Melo, whose long pass down the centre allowed Robinho to give Brazil an early lead, was later sent off for stamping on Arjen Robben.

Brazil forced a series of late corners but could not grab the goal that would have taken the first last-eight clash of the weekend to extra time and Netherlands will now face Uruguay next Tuesday in Cape Town.

Uruguay reached their first semi-final in 40 years after needing a penalty shoot-out to beat Ghana, who were bidding to become the first African team to reach the last four.

But Ghana were left to regret a last-minute extra-time penalty miss by Asamoah Gyan whose spot-kick crashed off the crossbar.

Brazil coach Dunga confirmed after his side's defeat that his four-year reign was over.

"We are all responsible for this situation but I have the greatest responsibility," Dunga said. "We are all extremely saddened, we did not expect this."

For Sneijder, the man of the match, his winning strike was his third goal of the finals.

"This was my first header. I don't think it will happen again, but it was great. The ball slipped on my bald head and went into the net," said the Inter Milan star.

Success for the Dutch was particularly sweet as they came off second best against Brazil twice in the knockout phase of the World Cup, losing a 1994 quarter-final 3-2 and a semi-final on penalties four years later.

Uruguay's first 'semi' since 1970

At Soccer City in Johannesburg, Uruguay reached their first semi-final since 1970 after a pulsating 4-2 penalty shootout win over Ghana.

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved skipper John Mensah and Dominic Adiyah's attempts after the quarter-final had been locked at 1-1 after extra time.

Ghana could have won the match in the last minute of extra-time but leading scorer Gyan sent a penalty crashing off the crossbar after Luis Suarez had been sent off for deliberate handball on the goal-line. AFP