CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The Netherlands is in the World Cup final. Finally.
Long wasteful with its soccer talent, the Netherlands sure has found the right touch in this tournament.
Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday to advance to their first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.
“We are so close,” Sneijder said. “There is nothing bigger than the World Cup.”
Winners of all six games in South Africa, the Oranje will face today’s Germany-Spain winner in Sunday’s title game at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The Netherlands lost its other appearance in the final, to West Germany in 1974.
Both of those title-game defeats came during the golden period of Dutch soccer and occurred in the opposition’s homeland.
“This is unforgettable,” said Sneijder, now tied with Spain’s David Villa for top scorer at the tournament (five goals). “It was a tough fight, and toward the end we complicated matters.
“Sunday, we play in the World Cup final. I have to get used to that.”
Sneijder’s goal came somewhat unexpectedly because Uruguay had shut down the Dutch offense for much of the second half. His left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area clipped the leg of defender Maxi Pereira, and, with an offside Robin van Persie almost deflecting it again, it skidded past goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
Then Robben sent a cross from Dirk Kuyt past a flat-footed Muslera with a brilliant header as Robben was leaping away from the net. His teammates piled on in an Oranje Crush celebration, and Robben came up from it with mud on his forehead, a smile on his face — and the knowledge that the Netherlands led 3-1 and was likely headed to the championship match.
For good measure, Robben blew kisses to the fans.
Pereira made the Netherlands sweat with a goal in injury time, and a late save by Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg preserved the biggest Dutch win in decades. The Dutch have now won 10 straight.
Giovanni Van Bronckhorst gave his team the lead in the 18th minute, and the Oranje pressed for more. But when they let up slightly on defense, Diego Forlan pounced. He was given far too much open space in the middle of the field, and, from just inside of 30 yards, his left-footed drive went off Stekelenburg’s hand and into the net.
Stekelenburg was screened by defender John Heitinga and didn’t get a good view of the ball until it was too late.
Forlan left in the 85th minute, and coach Oscar Tabarez revealed after the match that his star played hurt.
World Cup schedule
All games in South Africa
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday at Cape Town
Netherlands 3, Uruguay 2
Today at Durban
Germany vs. Spain, 12:30 p.m. ESPN, KCEC-50 (Spanish)
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Saturday at Port Elizabeth
Uruguay vs. TBD, 12:30 p.m., KMGH-7, KCEC-50
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday at Johannesburg
Netherlands vs. TBD, 12:30 p.m., KMGH-7, KCEC-50
