Uruguay vs. Netherlands: Dutch win, 3-2, advance to first World Cup final since 1978 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -- As a first-time host of soccer's grand spectacle, Africa opened the 2010 World Cup with tremendous good will showered upon its six qualifying teams. By the quarterfinals, South America had emerged as the tournament's dominant player, with four of its five squads among the last eight. But Tuesday at Cape Town Stadium, the Netherlands did its part in restoring Europe as the leading actor in the World Cup, defeating an undermanned but resilient squad from Uruguay, 3-2, in the first of the tournament's two semifinals to guarantee an all-European final. The Netherlands will face either Spain, the 2008 European champion, or three-time World Cup champion Germany, for the sport's most coveted trophy Sunday at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium. The loser of Wednesday's semifinal in Durban will face Uruguay in the third-place match Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Dutch soccer fans erupted in cheers, song and ear-splitting vuvuzela blasts when Wesley Sneijder, their most prolific scorer, struck the 70th-minute goal that reclaimed the lead after a tense first half ended in a 1-1 deadlock. Once the victory was official following a spirited surge by Uruguay, which scored to make it a one-goal game during stoppage time, a throng estimated at 40000 to 50000 erupted anew in Amsterdam's Museum Square, where Dutch supporters watched the proceedings on massive outdoor screens. Almost ...
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