Uruguay 1 vs 1 Netherlands (In Progress)

KUYT!!! his diving header misses wide, but Sneijder’s cross was superb! Either way, the Liverpool man was whistled offside.

Kuyt picks out Robben at the top of the box, but he’s marked by three defenders and has a tough ball to control. Robben has been playing more centrally than usual over the last few minutes.

…Stekelenburg saves comfortably. Uruguay really are looking good right now. Two minutes of extra time to be added.

Uruguay now have a free kick very close to where Forlan netted a few moments ago. The striker stands over it and…

On second glance, one really must question Stekelenburg. The ball swerved back and forth in typical Jabulani fashion, but the Dutch goalkeeper probably should have done better.

FANTASTIC GOAL BY FORLAN!!!! The #10 receives the ball deep, turns, and fires on goal from well outside the box. Stekelenburg gets a finger to it, but is unable to keep it out! Incredible!

Goal Diego Forlán Corazo

FORLAN!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

Cavani is sharp to reach the ball quickly, but the Dutch defence is all over him. Eventually, Alvaro Pereira tries a cross and Forlan’s long-ranged header loops over the bar.

CHANCE FOR URUGUAY! Sneijder loses possession deep in his own half, and Cavani is released on the right side of the penalty area. Mathijsen commits himself to a hopeless tackle, but gets away with it. Cavani tries to cross, but it deflects off Heitinga’s chest, near his arm.

As a cross sails over his head, Cavani bumps into Van Bronckhorst and his legs suddenly turn to jelly. The referee waves play on, and the crowd is not amused.

ROBBEN!!! SO CLOSE! Van Persie makes an excellent turn to pick out Robben at the top of the box, but Caceres makes a potentially goal-saving intervention! That could have been 2-0!

And in the aftermath, Heitinga and Snejder move in to confront Caceres. Sneijder pushes over the Uruguayan. In the end, Sneijder and Caceres earn bookings.

Yellow Card Wesley Sneijder

Yellow Card José Martín Cáceres

OWCH! De Zeeuw goes down in a heap! Caceres tries a bicycle kick as his Dutch opponent attempts a header, and De Zeeuw gets kicked in the face!

Uruguay are trying to move forward, but with Forlan playing as a striker, are having a difficult time linking between midfield and attack.

As a general comment, the play tonight has been very open thus far. Both sides are committed to quickly move the ball from end to end. Uruguay are obviously interested in scoring, but the Netherlands appear similarly committed to the attack.

Maxi Pereira earns a booking for a poor foul on Robben, who really made a meal of it.

Yellow Card Maximiliano Pereira

It’s full steam ahead for the Dutch now. Sneijder picks out Robben with a slick pass, and with his first touch, the Bayern Munich winger flicks on for Van Persie, but the ball is cleared for a corner.

AN UNBELIEVABLE STRIKE FROM THE VETERAN FULLBACK! From well outside the penalty area and out to the left, Van Bronckhorst is baited into shooting, and punishes the defenders. His shot sails just past Muslera and in off the right post. INCREDIBLE!

GOAAAAAAAAL VAN BRONCKHORST! WHAT A STRIKE!!!!!!

Goal Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Van Persie superbly nicks the ball off Maxi Pereira at the left byline looks up, and sees no orange shirts. He runs into the box, but is eventually dispossessed.

FORLAN! Cavani lofts a gorgeous chipped cross to his striking partner, who just misses when clear on goal! It would not have counted anyway, as the Atletico star was offside.

SNEIJDER!!! Ooh, if only Van Persie hadn’t been in the way! The Inter midfielder does well to make space at the top of the box before driving his shot straight into his teammate. Uruguay clear…

This time, the Uruguayan forwards connect, but Cavani is called offside. Replays show that he was onside at the time of Forlan’s ball, but the Dutch benefit from the referee’s whistle.

Forlan peels off Cavani as Mathijsen overcommits himself. The Uruguayan strikers mix their signals, however, as the ball goes one way, and Cavani the other.

Kuyt takes an immaculate first touch to free himself on the left flank before crossing into Robben’s direction. After a bit of shaky defending, Muslera claims the ball.

Van Bronckhorst gets bailed out as his clearance deflects off Cavani’s arm. Uruguay had done well to press the Dutch defender into a corner, but a free kick is awarded.

Alvaro Pereira finds himself all alone and marked by two defenders, so he has a go from a good 50 yards. Stekelenburg is untroubled as the ball sails over the bar.

KUYT!!!! He REALLY should have done better! Robben first skins Caceres before having his cross blocked. Muslera then punches Robben’s second cross only as far as Kuyt, who sends his shot well over the bar. That should have been 1-0!

The Dutch look to move the ball upfield through the middle before Cavani intervenes. Uruguay attack, but Pereira is a hair offside.

AND THEY’RE OFF! After a bit of ping-ponging, Van Bommel comes in with a hard tackle on Alvaro Pereira, clearing the ball out for a throw-in.

Captains Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Diego Forlan meet in the centre circle to exchange pleasantries before retreating to meet with their respective teams. One minute until kickoff!

And for the Netherlands: Stekelenburg – Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst – Van Bommel, De Zeeuw – Robben, Sneijder, Kuyt – Van Persie

Here’s the starting lineup for Uruguay, in 4-4-2 formation: Muslera – M. Pereira, Godin, Victorino, Caceres – Perez, Gargano, Arevalo Rios, A. Pereira – Cavani, Forlan

For the Netherlands, right back Gregory van der Weil and midfielder Nigel de Jong are suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

In their match against Ghana, Luis Suarez famously handled the ball on the goal line (and was duly punished with a red card) to keep his team’s hopes alive. Accordingly, the Ajax striker is suspended for today’s match. Defenders Diego Lugano and Nicolas Lodeiro are also set to miss out with injuries.

Both teams took narrow victories in the quarterfinals, with the Netherlands coming from behind to beat Brazil 2-1 in regular time. Uruguay also had to recover from an early deficit against Ghana, and had to go to penalty shootout in order to advance.