FIFA World Cup, Semifinals: Uruguay 1-1 vs Netherlands- First Half Report
Its honours for both sides' captains even at half-time in the first semifinal between Uruguay and Netherlands, as the first half ended 1-1, with both Giovanni van Bronckhorst (from Netherlands) and Diego Forlan (from Uruguay) scoring one goal apiece.
The match started quite slowly; there were a couple of meaty challenges to set the tone for the evening, and it was Uruguay who enjoyed the better of the match at the early stages in Cape Town.
Netherlands had the first chance when Arjen Robben skinned Martin Caceres down the Dutch right; and when a cross came in Fernando Muslera didn’t get enough on his punch - from about 14 yards, and Dirk Kuyt smashed a right-foot shot over the bar, but probably should have hit the target.
It was a pretty low-key start in all honesty; the teams were just looking to feel each other out. You could not blame them – it is the biggest moment of every single one of these players' careers.
Soon there was Dutch danger again, as Dirk Kuyt swung over a cross from the Netherlands’ left and Arjen Robben just could not get a header on target. It was an early test for Fernando Muslera's handling, but he dealt with the rebound well.
Then came another contender for the goal of the tournament: the Netherlands worked it from right to left and when the ball got to Giovanni van Bronckhorst 35 yards out to the left, it looked like he got very little on it. But the 35-year-old conjured up an absolute screamer, sending a stunning left-foot drive into the top corner, just flicking the fingertips of Fernando Muslera on its way into the postage stamp. It was simply magnificent.
5 minutes later, Robin van Persie threatened the goalpost again, but Diego Godin dealt with the danger inside his own penalty area. Uruguay needed to be careful, because the Dutch were all of a sudden in complete control.
It was fair to say Uruguay were behind the eight ball in many ways. They were 1-0 down, and only had 37% possession and had not mustered a chance worthy of the name till then.
But finally Uruguay started getting into the action - unfortunately, not in a good way. Martin Caceres tried an overhead kick on the edge of the Dutch box and his boot hit Demy de Zeeuw in the face. De Zeeuw's teammates were furious, but Caceres had his eye on the ball; it was an unfortunate accident, and Caceres picked up a yellow card.
The action did not stop there; there was top defending from Martin Caceres at the other end, sticking with Arjen Robben inside the Uruguay box after he'd been slipped in by Robin van Persie.
Edinson Cavani went down again 30 yards from the Dutch goal but the ref waved play on and Alvaro Pereira took up possession, curling a tame left-footer into the arms of the untested Maarten Stekelenburg.
It was just a bit lifeless. Arjen Robben set up Dirk Kuyt on the left, but he cut in and his right-foot effort was saved at the near post.
But within 2 minutes, Uruguay found inspiration from somewhere: captain Diego Forlan collected the ball 35 yards from the Netherlands goal, turned into some space in a central position and let fly with a left-foot shot that seemed to swerve in the air and bamboozle Maarten Stekelenburg, who stood helpless as the ball landed into his net.
That was pretty much the final big action of the half, as teams went to the locker rooms level at 1-1.
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