Netherlands beat Uruguay to reach World Cup final

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Netherlands reached their third World Cup final with a 3-2 win over Uruguay in a dramatic semi-final in Cape Town on July 6.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst put the Netherlands ahead after 18 minutes with probably the goal of the tournament, a stunning 30 meter strike which whistled past Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

But Diego Forlan, the Uruguay captain on the night, equalized shortly before halftime with a long-range effort that eluded Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, his fourth goal of the World Cup.

The second half burst to life just after the hour mark as first Sneijder's shot found its way through a sea of legs to beat Muslera for his fifth of the tournament.

In the 73rd minute, Robben headed home Dirk Kuyt's cross to make it 3-1.

It looked academic, but the last South American team in the tournament conjured up a late goal as Pereira scored with a low curling shot.

In a desperate finale, Uruguay threatened an equalizer, but it is the Dutch who go into an all-European final.

The Dutch will play the winners of the second semi-final between Germany and Spain for the ultimate prize in football at Soccer City on Johannesburg on July 11, CNN reported.