Holland march into World Cup final

Arjen Robben
12 April 2012

Second-half goals from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben swept Holland into the World Cup final with a 3-2 win over Uruguay in Cape Town.

Uruguay had levelled Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s brilliant opener through Diego Forlan just before the break.

But the South Americans were rocked back as the Dutch struck twice in three minutes after the interval and although Maximiliano Pereira fired home in stoppage time, it is Holland who await the winners of the second semi between Germany and Spain on Wednesday.

Uruguay were on the wrong end of two tight offside calls before they found themselves on the wrong end of what could turn out to be the goal of the tournament.

There appeared to be little momentum behind a Dutch foray forward until skipper Van Bronkhorst collected possession 25 yards out and let fly with a shot that flew into the Uruguay net like a tracer bullet, giving Fernando Muslera absolutely no chance of keeping it out.

Forlan struck back for Uruguay four minutes before the break as he let fly with a shot that seemed to deceive Maarten Stekelenburg in flight.

Just as it seemed the game was descending towards extra-time, Sneijder struck. The goal did owe plenty to a deflection off Maximiliano Pereira that came at such close quarters it deceived everyone in its wake, including Robin van Persie, who should really have tucked it home.

Instead, although Muslera flung himself valiantly to his left, the ball evaded his clutches and crept in at the far post.

Three minutes later, a place in the final was assured as Dirk Kuyt swung over a cross from the left which Robben rose unchallenged to reach and head right into the corner.

Pereira pulled one back in stoppage time but it was too late to halt Holland’s progress into the final.

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