MatchDay saw the first pair of quarterfinals, with the Dutch taking on the Brazilians at Port Elizabeth and Africa's last hope, Ghana facing a resilient Uruguay side at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
Brazil rocketed off the blocks, with Robinho having one goal ruled out for offside within the first few minutes. He was not to be denied, however, as he collected a pass from Felipe Melo that sliced open the Dutch defence and smacked a first-time shot under Stekelenburg's legs at the ten-minute mark. In control for almost the entire duration of the first half, the five-time winners were looking increasingly in sight of their sixth title, until things went absolutely pear shaped in the second half. First, Felipe Melo came bang in the way of Julio Cesar when he tried to deal with a floating freekick by Sneijder but only ended up glancing it into his own net (until yesterday, it was still recorded as an own goal by Melo, but the authorities later changed it and credited Sneijder with the goal). Unnerved, Brazil fell behind when poor set-piece defending allowed Sneijder a free header (the sight of the not-so-tall Sneijder scoring a goal with his head off a corner must have sent Dunga into an apoplectic rage). Then, utterly piqued by Robben's trickery on the ball, Melo stamped on the Dutch winger's leg viciously and deservingly got his marching orders. Brazil fell apart after this and despite a flurry of corners late in the game, they crashed out at the quarterfinal stage for the second time in as many World Cups (they had lost to France in 2006, courtesy a Zidane freekick which Henry slotted home after ghosting in off the far post and beating a dozing Roberto Carlos to the ball).
A match that, as the commentator said, had distinct phases, with Uruguay starting brightly and forcing several corners and Ghana finishing stronger, even scoring a goal at the stroke of half-time. Then, Forlan scored from a sublime freekick that left Richard Kingson (the only worthy candidate for the Lev Yashin award for me) floundering. Uruguay's superior physical endurance ensured the match went into Extra Time, which for the most part, was played according to the script until the 120th minute began and the drama was raised by several notches to an absolute fever pitch. Ghana had a freekick on the right flank and as the ball floated into the box, Uruguay's keeper flapped his arms couple of times. The ball eventually fell kindly to Stephen Appiah, Ghana's decorated midfielder, who directed a firm header towards the goal with the goalkeeper squarely beaten. Incredibly, Luis Suarez, Uruguay's striker who was on the goalline, punched the ball away like a 'keeper right under the nose of the Portuguese referee and receiving a red card for deliberate handball. With a minute to go for the end of Extra Time, Ghana could not have asked for a better time to have a penalty and as Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the kick, you could sense that the writing was on the wall for the South Americans. But, not for nothing is there a phrase called "Garra Charua". The exact translation is near impossible, but for all practical purposes, it roughly means "fighting till the last breath". And that is exactly what Uruguay did after Gyan blazed his spotkick straight at the crossbar and the ball sailed into the stands. In an amazing couple of minutes, the initiative had changed hands and with Uruguay believing they could win, Ghana betrayed nerves as Mensah and Addiyah botched their spotkicks in the shootout and Sebastian Abreu emulated Francesco Totti in cheekily chipping Kingson for the decisive kick. Gyan was inconsolable after the game, despite bravely choosing to take the opening spotkick for the Africans. For Uruguay, it is their first semi-final appearance in forty years and but with no Suarez and in all probability missing their captain, Diego Lugano as well against a determined Netherlands team, the task is well cut out for them.
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