Holland showed great fighting spirit to come from a goal down against Brazil after a stunning 2-1 victory to reach the semi-finals.
Dunga's side end with 10 men after Melo sent off for stamp
Holland showed great fighting spirit to come from a goal down against five-time champions Brazil and advance to the semi-finals after a stunning 2-1 victory.
The contest in Port Elizabeth did not disappoint its pre-match billing and both sides gave everything they could in a tie that ebbed and flowed from kick-off to the final whistle.
Brazil dominated the first half and took the lead in the 10th minute after Felipe Melo punished the Dutch for going to sleep in central defence, sliding a ball through to Robinho who finished coolly.
Dunga's men were on top and in control, until a disastrous error from Julio Cesar gifted Holland an equaliser eight minutes after the restart. Wesley Sneijder whipped a cross in from the right and the keeper missed his punch - the ball deflecting off Melo and into his own net.
Holland were soon ahead as Sneijder nodded in to make it a quickfire turnaround, after Dirk Kuyt had flicked on an Arjen Robben corner.
There was still time for more drama and Melo was shown the red card for a blatant stamp on Robben, but Holland held on for the win.
The Dutch were dealt a blow in the pre-match warm-up as centre-back Joris Mathijsen limped out with a knee injury, leaving 35-year-old Andre Ooijer to fill the gap in central defence.
It proved a crucial absence as Holland were carved open after just 10 minutes, with Ooijer and partner John Heitinga nowhere to be seen as Robinho waltzed through to open the scoring.
Warning
Bert van Marwijk's men had been given a warning before the goal, as Robinho had the ball in the net just two minutes previously, but his effort was correctly ruled out after Dani Alves was flagged offside.
This was all after a fiery start to the game in Port Elizabeth, where the challenges were flying in as both sides looked to gain the upper hand in the opening exchanges.
It was Brazil who took the impetus, and they took it with real aplomb. Criticism of the Dutch defence is warranted, as Ooijer and Heitinga should not have allowed a direct pass from deep to split them open with such ease.
But credit must be given to Melo, as the midfielder known for his skills in breaking up the play, slid a ball through with perfect weight and accuracy for Robinho to run onto and confidently slip past Maarten Stekelenburg.
Holland were all at sea and although Kuyt had a shot saved at the near post by Julio Cesar immediately after going behind, the Brazilian defence that has been so solid throughout the World Cup remained impenetrable.
Indeed, the Oranje were becoming increasingly frustrated as Robben was having little joy on the wing, while Robin van Persie cut an isolated figure up front on his own.
They were lucky to not go two behind in the 25th minute as Dani Alves found Juan with a clever corner.
The centre-half hit a first-time effort from just outside the six-yard box but fired it comfortably over the bar when he should have hit the target.
Just six minutes later and Holland had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping out a Kaka effort with a superb athletic save.
The Brazil midfielder, who has not been at his best in South Africa, picked up the ball outside the box after great work from Robinho on the wing, before hitting a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner, but Stekelenburg clawed it away.
Sneijder had the only effort of note for the Dutch in the opening period, but his long-range stinger from a free-kick was straight at Julio Cesar.
In first-half stoppage-time Brazil again came close to doubling their lead when, after a good passing move, Maicon burst onto the scene from right-back and hit a shot into the side netting.
The build-up was reminiscent of Carlos Alberto's strike in the 1970 World Cup final, but it just ended up on the wrong side of the post.
After the break it was a different story as Holland equalised eight minutes after the restart in bizarre fashion. Robben was fouled on the right touchline by Michel Bastos and, with the left-back already on a yellow card, he was in severe danger of being given his marching orders.
Japanese referee Yuichi Nichimura kept his cards in his pocket, but disaster was to strike for Brazil from the resulting free-kick.
The ball was played back to Sneijder, and the Inter Milan man whipped a cross over with his left foot that bamboozled everyone and found its way into the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar came out and made a complete hash of his punch, and although Melo got the last touch and was credited with the own goal, it was the keeper who was at fault.
They say goals change games and the equaliser certainly did - Holland looked a side reborn after pulling level and were soon all over the five-time champions.
Nervous
A backline that previously looked watertight suddenly became nervous and error-prone. At the other end Kaka had a half-volley that drifted narrowly wide in the 66th minute but it was an effort against the run of play.
Sneijder sent the Dutch supporters into raptures in the 68th minute when he put Holland in front with a header from a corner.
Robben, who came alive after the break, whipped the ball in and after Kuyt's flick on, Sneijder was in the right place to divert it home.
From being in a commanding position with one foot in the semi-finals, Brazil were on the ropes and in danger of imploding.
And it was soon to get worse as Melo, the hero after creating the opening goal, was shown the red card after a rash, petulant and frankly stupid stamp on Robben.
The incident epitomised Brazil's downfall in the second half, as they lost control of a game which they previously had by the scruff of the neck.
There were dangerous moments still for Holland, as Mark van Bommel missed his defensive header from a corner only to see the ball flash across the goalmouth, but the Oranje held on for a remarkable victory.
| Netherlands |
Team Statistics |
Brazil |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 4 |
Corners |
8 |
| 19 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 4 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 78.3 |
Passing Success |
78.8 |
| 19 |
Tackles |
14 |
| 52.6 |
Tackles Success |
50 |
| 49.2 |
Possession |
50.8 |
| 51 |
Territorial Advantage |
49 |
|
