Oranje fightback floors Brazil

The Netherlands fought back from a goal down to beat five-time champions Brazil 2-1 and seal a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.

Brazil were in charge of the quarter-final in Port Elizabeth after Robinho's strike gave them a half-time lead. However, the game changed in the 53rd minute when Wesley Sneijder's cross found the far corner with a little help from Felipe Melo and the Dutch schemer then scored again to give the Oranje the advantage. After Melo was sent off, Bert van Marwijk's men held on to secure a first Dutch victory over Brazil since 1974.

The South American team had begun strongly and were ahead within ten minutes. There seemed little danger when Melo had possession on the halfway line. However, he produced a defence-splitting pass to Robinho, who had drifted untracked to the edge of the Netherlands area. Finding himself in space, the Brazil No11 swept the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg with aplomb.

Dunga's side looked dangerous whenever they attacked – one flowing move ending with Stekelenburg turning away Kaká's curling effort at full stretch. The Netherlands, meanwhile, could not profit from their few forays forward and it was Brazil again who threatened moments before the break through Maicon.

The momentum, though, swung dramatically eight minutes after the interval. The creator of the opening goal, Melo, played an unwitting part in the second, flicking in Sneijder's wicked delivery as goalkeeper Júlio César missed his punch. Suddenly Van Marwijk's team were on top with the previously quiet Arjen Robben starting to influence matters.

The Oranje went in front after 68 minutes when Robben's corner was touched on by Dirk Kuyt and Sneijder reacted instinctively to nod past his FC Internazionale Milano team-mate César. If the game had been turned around, it soon tipped even further in the Netherlands' favour as Melo was dismissed for a foul on Robben with 16 minutes remaining.

Brazil pushed in search of an equaliser yet it was the Dutch who came closest to adding to the scoring with Kuyt, Sneijder and Robben passing up presentable chances. Not that it mattered as the Netherlands will play Uruguay in Tuesday's semi-final in Cape Town.