World Cup: Uruguay vs. the Netherlands: Dutch lead after 30 minutes
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The Netherlands has dominated the early going, partly because its defense hasn’t allowed Uruguay to get anything going. The semifinals, after all, is nothing new to the Dutch, who finish fourth in 1998 and reached the quarterfinals in the U.S. World Cup four years earlier.
A win here puts them in the championship match, and that would be rarefied air for Holland, who last played in the final in 1978, when they lost to Argentina. They also reached the final in 1974, losing that one too to West Germany.
In a horrifying accident midway through the opening half, Netherlands midfielder Demy De Zeeum took a boot to the face from Uruguay’s Martin Caceres, who went up for a bicycle kick on a ball De Zeeum was trying to head. The Uruguay’s foot caught the Dutch player straight to the mouth, earning Caceres a yellow card even though the kick was unintentional and Caceres appeared more concerned about his opponent than anyone.
-- Kevin Baxter in from Durban, South Africa