The Netherlands came from a goal down to beat 10-man Brazil 2-1 in their World Cup quarterfinal clash in Port Elizabeth on Friday.The Netherlands scored twice in the second half to stun the five-time champion Brazil, 2-1, in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, the biggest Dutch win in the tournament since the team’s glory days in the 1970s.An early goal from Robinho had put Brazil in command, but in the second half the Dutch drew level when Wesley Sneijder's cross was deflected into his own net by Felipe Melo.The Netherlands tied the score on another defensive mistake. After Arjen Robben won a free kick near the right sideline, the ball was pushed ahead, and then back to Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder lofted a left-footed cross toward the goal, but Brazil’s goalkeeper, Julio Cesar, failed to catch it and it deflected into the net off the only other player who rose to challenge for it: Felipe Melo.The Dutch took the lead 15 minutes later when Robben drove a corner kick to the near post and Dirk Kuyt flicked it over his head to Sneijder, who was unguarded four yards in front. Sneijder merely redirected the speeding ball into the net. In the 73rd minute,Felipe Melo drew a straight red card and his shorthanded team could muster little more than desperate pleas for fouls and a few missed chances on set plays.The Netherlands advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 1998, and it will play the winner of Friday’s second game between Uruguay and Ghana. The result will also raise the criticism of Brazil’s coach, Dunga, to a fever pitch. He has unbashedly remolded his team from its flashy samba-style roots to a more pragmatic defensive juggernaut focused intently on getting victories. Now that the Brazilians are out, he will no doubt shoulder much of the blame.
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