World Cup – Quarters, Day 1

WOW!  Two wonderful games in one day ..

Netherlands 2 – Brazil 1

This was a tremendous game. Brazil was the better team in the first half.  Robinho scored a nice goal on 10′ on a long ball down the middle which he controlled and put in the goal.  Brazil controlled the rest of the half, and had a couple of good attempts that they would deeply regret not scoring. The second one was a gorgeous strike curling into the upper corner nicely saved by Dutch golie Stekelenberg,

The Dutch came out and dominated the second half.  Dutch winger Arjen Robben wreaked havoc down the right wing; the equalizer came at 53′ on a Wesley Sneijder free kick drawn by Robben. 15 minutes later Sneijder, the smallest man on the pitch, got the winner on a free header from a corner kick.  The Brazilian hopes ended in the 73rd minute when Felipe Melo got sent off.

Brazil is the more talented team, but they could never really get things going this tournament.

Uruguay* 1(4) – Ghana 1(2)

This was the most dramatic (and heart-breaking) game of the tournament. Ghana was the better team for much of the game, although Uruguay generated quite a bit of positive play and good chances. Ghana earned a goal at the stroke of halftime through Sulley Muntari, who struck from above the penalty circle while the goalie was screened and put it in the corner. Uruguay leveled early in the second half on a gorgeous 25 yard free kick from Diego Forlan, who had no trouble bringing the troublesome Jabulani ball down over the wall and under the crossbar. That was the scoring for the game, which was surprising given how open and aggressive both teams were playing. Even during extra time, which is often horrible as both sides play not to lose, this game was open and entertaining.

It was also dramatic.  In the 120th minute, Ghana mounted a furious attack at the Uruguayan goal, and would have scored but for a Luis Suarez handball on the line.  The referee saw it, and properly awarded the penalty and the red card. Ghanian star and leader Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the kick, and bounced it off the crossbar!  Literally a minute later the game was into “kicks from the penalty spot”, and Gyan was the first kicker. This time he nailed it, but two of his teammates failed, and Uruguay won the game on PKs.

So, a depleted Uruguay play Netherlands in the Tuesday semi-final. I fail to see how, with leading scorer Luis Suarez and defensive standout Jorge Fucile suspended, that they can even make a game of it. But I hope they do, if for no other reason than to make the game interesting.