8 Jul 2010

Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 to set up all-European final

11:57 am on 8 July 2010

The Netherlands have defeated Urugauy 3-2 in the first football World Cup semi-final in South Africa, to set up an all-European final with either Spain or Germany.

The Netherlands opened the scoring through their captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst with a stunning long range strike in the 18th minute.

Uruguay equalised four minutes before half-time with a just as spectacular goal to Diego Forlan from 30 metres out.

Two goals in three minutes midway through the second half from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben gave Netherlands a 3-1 lead, but Uruguay's Maximiliano Pereira gave them some nervous moments with a late goal two minutes into stoppage time.

It will be the Netherlands' third World Cup final, after they lost the title in 1974 to West Germany and were defeated by Argentina in 1978.