PQF: Brazil & Netherlands set-up clash

Will the favourites Brazil and Netherlands move on and beat the minnows or can Chile and Slovakia cause an upset.

(to be updated after the second game)

Netherlands 2-1 (1-0) Slovakia
Goals: 1-0 Arjen Robben (18'), 2-0 Wesley Sneijder (84'), 2-1 Robert Vittek (90+4').

The Netherlands moved on into the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by beating Slovakia 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. But again it was a more pragmatic Dutch side which didn't show the flair which they possess in this squad.

The Oranjes were the better of the two sides in the first session as they mainly dominated against the Slovaks. But the Slovaks had the first chance of the match through Erik Jendrisek, but thereafter it were Oranje attacks. The Dutch took the lead through their star player Arjen Robben in the 18th minute. And it was a typical Robben goal as he sprinted up on the right flank, then moved in and in-between three defenders could get his shot through which landed in the net behind keeper Jan Mucha. But after taking the lead the Dutch became complacent, but the Slovaks couldn't utilise this in their favour.

Coach Bert van Marwijk seemed to have found the right words in the break as the Dutch came out in search of a second goal. First Robben's shot was just about cleared by Mucha, then Joris Mathijsen's shot hit Mucha's head. But the Dutch again became complacent with the Slovaks towards the middle of the half finally sensing that they had a chance in the game. First a Miroslav Stoch shot was just about cleared by Maarten Stekelenburg in the 67th minute and then Robert Vittek's shot was again cleared by Stekelenburg which the Slovak striker should have scored. And in the 78th minute again Vittek had a chance, but this time he shot the ball over. The Dutch realised that the match wasn't sealed upped the tempo and through a quickly taken free kick scored their second goal through Wesley Sneijder. The ball was played to Dirk Kuyt, who beat the onrushing keeper Mucha and played it back into the middle to Sneijder who pushed the ball in. In injury time the Slovaks got a penalty when Martin Jakubko went down, but the striker went down rather then keeper Stekelenburg bringing him down. Robert Vittek would score to reduce the deficit, but the referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco from Spain would blow the final whistle after the penalty.


Brazil 3-0 (2-0) Chile
Goals: 1-0 Juan (35'), 2-0 Luis Fabiano (38'), 3-0 Robinho (59').

The Brazilians weren't really tested by their South American rivals Chile as they beat them 3-0 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Brazilians will now face the Netherlands in a game which will be high on expectations of the fans with both teams being more clinical in their finish then showing their potential flair.

It started as an open game as Chile once more tried to have a go at their opponents from the start, but the Brazilians were not really tested as Chile couldn't play the final pass, while Chile's defence also looked better organised not allowing the Brazilians too much space. But things changed in the 35th minute as Juan headed in a Maicon corner. And then only three minutes later Luis Fabiano would score of a counter attack in which Robinho, Kaka und Luis Fabiano combined with the striker going around the keeper to score. Chile looked shocked, became once more desperate as they had been against Spain a few days ago and they didn't really have a look at goal.

After the break Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa brought on two fresh players, but it didn't work as Chile still couldn't find a way through the Brazilian defence. Brazil allowed Chile to combine up to the 16 metre box and then looked for counter attacks. One such attack came in the 59th minute when Ramires intercepted a ball and went straight towards the Chile goal, he squared for Robinho and he curled a beauty into the net. The match was sealed as Chile were too harmless infront of the Brazilian goal. Brazil did get chances to score even more, while Chile got some chances goalwards and should have been rewarded with a goal.