The odds are tumbling, the reputations are crumbling and this World Cup continues to be the most unpredictable for years.
Holland 2, Brazil 1
This game was so set up for Brazil to triumph but nothing should be taken for granted and stupid basic errors proved to be their undoing. Even in the warm up the odds seemed stacked against Holland, centre back Mathijsen was injured and Ooijer was drafted in, the new recruit and partner Heitinga had a torrid start. Robinho has clawed back some of his tarnished reputation so far and he continued, exploiting the wide open Dutch defence, latching onto a long pass from Melo to score after 10 minutes. Kuyt tested Cesar in the Brazil goal but he coped well with that low shot and a Sneijder free kick.
Brazil looked tight in defence and started the second half in a comfortable position, but then they hit the self destruct button. Sneijder whipped in a cross from the right that hung in the air, Cesar and Melo couldn’t decide whose ball it was and as they collided the ball flew into the net off Melo’s head. Kaka could have put Brazil back in front after a poor clearance but he put the ball wide. Time for another defensive lapse, Robben flicked on a corner and the Brazil defence was all over the place leaving Sneijder to head it into the net. Things got worse when Melo completed a bad day at the office by stamping on a grounded Robben, a clear sending off. The Dutch couldn’t believe his stupidity and tucked in to play out the remains of the game for a famous victory.
Uruguay 1, Ghana 1 (Uruguay win 4-2 on pens)
What a cracker of a game. Uruguay looked the only side in it for the first 30 minutes and then a corner for Ghana and a Vorsa header just over the bar lit the fuse for the Africans and they were fizzing. Forland was everywhere early on, first setting up Fernandez and then forcing a corner with a raid down the left and sending the ball into Cavani whose shot was scrambled clear. Once Ghana had started they were impressive, Gyan led the line superbly and Muntari scored a belter. back to goal he turned into space and unleashed a curling shot that was unstoppable.
It was that other great forward Forlan who levelled the scores 10 minutes into the second half, his long range free kick deviated in the air before settling in the Ghana net. Suarez had his moments including a point blank save by Kingson when one on one. Both teams looked a little tired as the game went into extra time but then they dug deep and came again. Gyan wasted the best chance in the first extra 15 minutes and headed over again just inside the second phase. Forlan tried to do too much on his own when Suarez was free and at the other end Prince was deied by a two fisted save. Both sides battled and were a credit to the game but as the minutes ticked away there was late drama. The ball pinged around in the Uruguay gola area and Suarez used his hands to clear a goal bound shot, he got a red card and Ghana a gilt edged chance. Gyan stepped up and blasted the ball but it bounced off the bar and out.
It was all so cruel but thats football and Ghana two poorly taken penalties from Mensa and Adiah were easily saved handing the semi final place to Uruguay.
