Agencies

Soccer City (South Africa), Jul 7: The Netherlands will play either Spain or Germany in the 2010 World Cup final on Sunday after beating Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday night

Both sides made a fairly even start to the match, with Uruguay showing no sign of nerves against a Dutch side who were expected by many to win prior to kick-off.

But the South Americans were clearly missing the presence of suspended striker Luis Suarez as they struggled for movement in attack.

Holland had made a bright start, looking to get Arjen Robben involved as much as possible early on, and it was the Dutch who took the lead when Giovanni van Bronckhorst's 30-yard strike flew beyond Fernando Muslera and into the top corner after 18 minutes.

Uruguay searched for a way back into the game as the game started to get untidy in a period of play that saw Martin Caceres booked when his overhead kick attempt resulted in him kicking Demy de Zeeuw in the face.

Robben went close to making it 2-0 before Uruguay broke well and put a cross into the box, only for Edinson Cavani to theatrically go down in the box.

The South Americans started to settle as the game passed the 30 minute mark as Alvaro Pereira registered a shot on target, but they still lacked any real pace when on the ball.

But Uruguay's improved performance was rewarded shortly before half-time when striker Diego Forlan collected the ball around 35 yards from the Holland goal and after making some space for himself, fired the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg to make it 1-1 after 41 minutes. The ball moved in the air but the keeper likely should have done better as the sides went in at half-time with the score level and Holland's players and fans stunned.

The second half got underway with Uruguay looking the better side. For all their possession, the Netherlands were struggling to put together any real quality passing and chances in front of goal were drying up while in contrast, Uruguay could have taken the lead after Khalid Boulahrouz's back pass was intercepted by Edinson Cavani, who challenged for the ball with Stekelenburg. The ball fell to Cavani wide on the left, who set the ball up for Alvaro Pereira only for his floated effort on goal to be cleared by van Bronckhorst.

The Dutch were looking to catch Uruguay on the break, with Robben looking like the player capable of creating something while the likes of Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt were at times struggling to have any impact on the game.

Holland enjoyed several minutes of possession in the Uruguay half as the hour mark went by, but Uruguay had another good chance when they won a free-kick 25 yards out after a late tackle by Mark van Bommel, who somehow avoided a yellow card. From the free-kick, the influential Diego Forlan went close as Stekelenburg palmed his shot away.

Holland went on the counter attack with Rafael van der Vaart seeing his shot parried into the path of Robben, who fired over from a tight angle.

The Dutch went on the attack again and took a debatable 2-1 lead after 70 minutes when Wesley Sneijder's shot took a deflection and went under the foot of Van Persie before creeping into the corner of the goal. Van Persie was arguably offside and if so, should have been flagged as he was active, but the goal stood.

Then just three minutes later, Arjen Robben made it 3-1 when he brilliantly headed the ball home from Dirk Kuyt's cross.

There was no debate to be had about the third goal, and although Uruguay had been the better team over the first 75 minutes of the game, Netherlands had made their chances count and with a little luck were in control.

Uruguay searched for a late response although the two quick goals had completely deflated them and although the scoreline perhaps flattered the Dutch, their ball retention in the closing minutes was excellent.

Uruguay gave themselves late hope of taking the game to extra-time when a free-kick won in injury time was played short to Maxi Pereria who curled the ball home to make it 3-2, but Holland held on to advance.

The South Americans will be disappointed and questions will be asked over Holland's goal, but it is the Dutch who advance to Sunday's now all-European World Cup final where they will play the winner of Wednesday night's Spain v Germany game.