Brazil 1 – Netherlands 2; a score line few would have imagined and certainly could not have been predicted by the history books, but it unfolded on Friday at The Nelson Mandela Bay. The World’s number one football team, for the second successive time, have been knocked out in the quarter finals.

Four years ago, in the same stage, Brazil were downed by a Zinedine Zidane inspired France, this time it was a Wesley Sneijder enthused Dutch side that did the damage. Against all odds, Netherlands showed great determination to come from a goal down to send the five time world cup winner’s home.

Brazil was in firm control of the first half and took the lead after 10 minutes through Robinho. A through ball from the centre circle caught the Dutch defence sleeping and Robinho found himself one on one with the goal keeper. It was a chance any nominal strikers would not miss and the Brazilian forward made no mistake; coolly sliding the ball past goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg.

For a moment, Brazil threatened to run a cricket score. Chance after chance went begging as Brazil failed to score the second decisive goal that would have effectively put the match beyond Netherlands’ reach. Dani Alves, Kaka and Louis Fabiano were all guilty of wasting opportunities.

After the break, the South American side was punished for not taking their chances.  Netherlands equalised early in the second half with a fluke own goal from Brazil’s midfielder, Felipe Melo. A seemingly harmless cross from the right flank caused a crush between goal keeper, Julio Cesar and Melo, allowing the ball to hit the midfielder’s head and deflect into the back of the net.

The goal proved to be the turning point in the match as the European side began to control the game. In the 68th minute, the goal that has sent shock waves throughout the soccer fraternity was scored. A corner from Arjen Robben was flicked at the near post by Dirk Kuyt into the path of Sneijder who headed home from six yards. 

Five minutes later, things moved from bad to worse for the Brazilians as Melo was sent off for stomping Robben after an Aerial crush. The red card destroyed Brazil’s chances of staging a heroic come back and they rarely posed any threat with ten men.

As the referee blew the final whistle, mixed expressions of joy, sorrow, unbelief and shock rained down on the Nelson Mandela Bay. Brazil could not believe they had been knocked out while the Dutch cerebrated as if they had already won the cup.  Netherlands will now face Uruguay in the semi-finals on Tuesday.