Holland recorded a 3-2 victory over a stubborn Uruguay side on Tuesday to qualify for the World Cup final for the first time in 32 years. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst put Holland in front on 18 minutes but Diego Forlan scored an equalizer five minutes from halftime. Wesley Sneijder regained Holland's advantage in the 70th minute and Arjen Robben gave the Oranje a two-goal cushion three minutes later. Maximiliano Pereira pulled one back for Uruguay in injury time but Holland maintained their slender lead amid heavy pressure from their opponents in the dying minutes. Holland, who have never won the World Cup, had previously reached the quadrennial competition's final twice in 1974 and 1978. They lost in both matches to Germany and Argentina respectively. In the 2010 final, Bert van Marwijk's team will face either Spain or Germany who clash with each other on Wednesday. Superior Holland were clearly superior to their opposition from the beginning. They kept piling up pressure upfront while Uruguay were working their socks off to maintain a rock-solid defense.
Dirk Kuyt wasted a clear-cut opportunity to put the Dutchmen ahead when he found a Fernando Muslera punched clearance inside the area but his shot went wide. Bronckhorst scored the opener with a delightful long-range drive. From a position near his left-hand flank, the veteran defender unleashed a powerful effort that touched the post before hitting the top corner of the net. Holland tightened their grip on the game for a while after taking the lead but Uruguay did not give themselves over to frustration. Diego Forlan brought the score level when he eluded his marker and fired a curling shot that clearly tricked keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. Uruguay took the upper hand late in the first period, albeit to no avail. Eventful Shortly after the break, the game turned into an evenly-balanced and eventful affair; with both teams persistently attacking. But eventually Holland controlled the game once again.
Seven minutes past the hour mark, Forlan had a free kick magnificently saved by Holland keeper Stekelenburg. Uruguay goalie Fernando Muslera also raised eyebrows when he blocked a fierce close-range effort from substitute Rafael van der Vaart, before Robben's poor follow-up effort went high over. Wesley Sneijder put Holland ahead again with a low shot that deflected off a challenger and into the net 20 minutes from time. The ball went under Robin Van Persie's foot while the Arsenal man was offside. He did not touch it though. Robben made amends for spurning a golden chance by heading home a pinpoint cross that was sent by Kuyt. Bayern Munich star Robben could have put the icing on the cake on 86 minutes too. He capitalized on a defensive lapse to go one-on-one with guardian Muslera but lost control of the ball. Uruguay lost hope late in the game but redeemed themselves after Pereira reduced the arrears with a low drive. Holland hold onto their one-goal lead till the final whistle to go through.
