Netherlands 2-1 Brazil: The sun shines in Port Elizabeth and fans of both sides bring warmth to a quarter-final between two teams ranked first and fourth in the world and that first met in a 2-0 Dutch win in 1974
The Dutch face the tournament favourites, criticism mounts at home for their negative play, and recent World Cup history shows defeats to Brazil in the last eight of USA 1994 and semi-final of France 1998
Five-time World Champions Brazil and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner Kaka, similarly, have taken criticism from their national press for their performances in South Africa despite 3-0 wins over Ivory Coast and Chile
Andrew Ooijer starts for the Netherlands when Joris Mathijsen injures himself in the warm-up while Arjen Robben is fit enough to start for the Dutch and is soon singled out by Brazil as the dangerman
With a goal already ruled out, Robinho scores on eight mintues, picking up Felipe Melo's straight ball as John Heitinga pushes up too far and the 37-year-old Ooijer and attack-minded Robben are unable to cover
Though the Netherlands hit back immediately with a Dirk Kuyt effort, the first half belongs to Brazil, with Juan blazing over a chance to double their lead from a Dani Alves short corner
One of the slickest moves of the World Cup draws one of its finest saves: Robinho beats two men, feeds Luis Fabiano, his flick finds Kaka and his curling shot is clawed away by Maarten Stekelenburg
Brazil get lucky when Michel Bastos avoids a second yellow card but the Netherlands get luckier as Wesley Sneijder's cross is misread by Melo and Julio Cesar to fly in to the far corner of the net on 53 minutes
The Dutch, involved in a quarter-final of four red cards against Portugal in 2006, are again in a game of niggling fouls and targeted aggression from both sides with everything to play for
Brazil are losing their cool and their organisation as the Netherlands dominate second-half possession, highlighted when Robben's corner is flicked on by Kuyt and headed home by Sneijder, both unmarked
Brazil coach Dunga, frustrated by his side's needless first-half fouls, must be dumbstruck when Robben goes to ground easily, only for Melo to stamp on the Dutch winger's leg and earn himself an early bath
Down to 10 men Brazil can't carve a chance despite a series of free-kicks and are lucky not to lose by more as the final whistle avenges 1994 and 1998 for the Dutch, now 24 games unbeaten
Uruguay v Ghana: With all of Africa taking Ghana, the continent's last remaining team, to heart, hope grows of sending home another team from South America, the continent that has dominated this World Cup
There is plenty of support for Uruguay at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, though, and they have much to get them excited about in the early stages of an open start to the quarter-final tie
As expected, Uruguay's trio of forwards - Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, pictured, get the Light Blues on the front foot early on - and Uruguay's attackers create a few good openings
One such chance sees Ghana keeper Richard Kingson - arguably the best keeper at the tournament - produce a reaction save to prevent John Mensah's deflection going into his own net from close range
Slowly but surely, though, Ghana start to click in attack themselves and they go agonisingly close when Isaac Vorsah sends a bullet header inches wide around the half-hour mark
Kevin-Prince Boateng is at the heart of most of Ghana's good play going forward, and his attempt at an audacious overhead kick is just one of a number of chances created by the African side on the counter
And then, in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Ghana get their reward when Sulley Muntari drills a fierce, swerving effort into the Uruguay net from fully 40 yards
Cue the celebrations in Johannesburg as goalscorer Sullley Muntari leads the team on a victory dance on the centre of the Soccer City Stadium pitch
The half-time break comes at the right time for Uruguay, though, and Ghana are caught out by a fabulous free-kick from Diego Forlan eight minutes into the second period
The equalising goal is Diego Forlan's third of the tournament, the 31-year-old continuing his fine season form with Atletico Madrid - marking him out as one of the World Cup's best strikers
That's how is stays until the end of the 90 minutes, prompting a vociferous rallying call before extra-time from Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez
After a largely uneventful extra-time period, incredible drama occurs in the final minute when Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez handles Dominic Adiyiah's header on the line and receives his marching orders
Handed the ultimate opportunity to send his side through to the World Cup semi-final with practically the last kick of the game, Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan crashes his penalty against the bar
It costs Ghana dearly, despite Asamoah Gyan scoring the opening penalty in the shoot-out, as misses by John Mensah and Dominic Asiyah afford Stebasitan Abreu the chance to dispatch the winning spot-kick
It sparks scenes of wild celebration from the Uruguay team, oblivious to the heartbreak and sense of injustice among the Ghana supporters in the Soccer City Stadium
Conversely, Ghana frontman Asamoah Gyan is inconsolable as he breaks down in tears, rueing the penalty miss that gave Uruguay the chance to win through to their first semi-final since 1970
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend 
Bookmark with:
What are these?