Holland came from a goal down to beat five-time champions and tournament favourites Brazil in Port Elizabeth, securing a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Wesley Sneijder headed home the winner for the Dutch, before them South Americans were reduced to 10 men when Felipe Melo was shown a red card after a stamp on Arjen Robben.

Dunga, the Brazil coach, drafted in Felipe Melo in midfield for the suspended Ramires, while the Dutch were forced into a late change after Joris Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up, with Andre Ooijer handed a start.

Eight minutes in Robinho put the ball in the net, but provider Dani Alves had been flagged offside and the celebrations were cut short.

Two minutes later Brazil took a 1-0 lead as Felipe Melo played a superb ball through the heart of the defence and Robinho sidefooted home under the advancing Maarten Stekelenburg from the edge of the area.

The South Americans continued to dominate after taking the lead and 25 minutes in Dani Alves' cross from the right was met by Juan, but he fired over from eight yards out.

Just past the half-hour mark Kaka received the ball 25 yards out and curled a right-foot shot towards the far corner, only for Stekelenburg to make an outstanding one-handed save to keep his side in the game.

That proved to be the final opening of a tetchy first half, with the Dutch having failed to find the fluency that they had shown earlier on in the tournament.

The second half produced a stunning turnaround in fortunes, started by an equaliser eight minutes after the restart. Sneijder's left-foot cross in from the right was missed by keeper Julio Cesar and flew into the far corner of the net thanks to a touch off the head of the unfortunate Felipe Melo.

That setback clearly upset the Brazilians, who lost their rhythm from that point on, while the Dutch triumph was only marred by Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong picking up cautions which rule them out of the semi-finals.

Midway through the second period it was 2-1 as Robin van Persie's corner from the right was touched on by Dirk Kuyt at the near post and Sneijder headed home from well inside the six-yard box.

The Brazilian cause was hindered further five minutes later when Melo stamped on Robben and was  shown a red card for a moment of indiscipline.

From that point on, the Dutch were in control and several counter-attacks could have seen them add a clinching third goal, while Brazil could conjure up few opening to try and rescue themselves.