FIFA World Cup 2010 Quater Final Brazil 1 Netherlands 2

Holland gain an advantage in the Brazil-Netherlands quarter-final when Wesley Sneijder's header skims into goal via the head of a Brazilian defender.(AFP)

 Brazil's Kaka (C) takes a shot on goal as Netherlands' Nigel de Jong tackles during their 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match against Netherlands in Port Elizabeth July 2, 2010. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)

Brazil's striker Robinho (C) scores the opening goal past Netherlands' goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match Netherlands vs. Brazil on July 2, 2010 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth.  AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)

PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 02: Felipe Melo of Brazil scores an own goal after a cross from Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands hits his head as goalkeeper Julio Cesar misjudges the cross during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Netherlands and Brazil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on July 2, 2010 in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)


Netherlands shocks Brazil 2-1


ANDREW DAMPF, AP - 16 minutes ago

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) -- Soccer's perennial World Cup underachievers from the Netherlands knocked off mighty Brazil on Friday, stamping the Dutch as a strong contender to finally win that elusive title.
Wesley Sneijder, one of the shortest players on the field, scored in the 68th minute on a header for a stunning 2-1 quarterfinals win over the five-time champions. Brazil, which also went out in this round four years ago against France, lost its composure after falling behind, and defender Felipe Melo was ejected in the 73rd minute.
The Dutch made the championship match in 1974 and '78, lost both, and rarely have lived up to their talent in other World Cups. They did this time, helped by an own goal off the head of unfortunate Felipe Melo that brought them into a 1-1 tie in the 53rd.
Robinho gave the Brazilians the lead on Felipe Melo's brilliant low pass up the middle of the field that the striker put home with a low shot.
But soon, the Dutch took control, and the end of the match presented the unusual sight of the Brazilians scrambling wildly to find an equalizer.
It never came.
Instead, it was the Oranje and their fans doing the dancing.
After scoring, Sneijder sprinted around the field, tapping the front of his head, then ran to a TV camera and tapped the lens. He was in the middle of all the postgame celebrating, too, as his teammates swarmed him when the final whistle blew.
A few yards away, several Brazilian players lay on the turf, bewildered and beaten.