One South African Soccer Semi-Final Down: A Dutch Treat

Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday night to advance to its first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.

Sneijder's fifth goal of the tournament came in the 70th minute after his shot deflected off Maximiliano Pereira. Robben headed in a Dirk Kuyt cross three minutes later to make it 3-1.

But Pereira scored in injury time and the Dutch had to hold on as Uruguay put on the pressure.

"We are so close," Sneijder said. "There is nothing bigger than the World Cup."

The Oranje will face either Germany or Spain in Sunday's title game at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The Netherlands lost its other appearance in the final, to West Germany in 1974.

Here's your first-half goals before they get pulled...
((HT: FIFA/ESPN/cooldude1697))


And here's Ruud Gullit, still giddy, analyzing with Mike Tirico and Steve McManaman
((HT: ESPN))