PORT ELIZABETH: Robinho gave Brazil a 1-0 lead over the Netherlands as the five-times World Cup winners dominated the opening quarter-final here on Friday.

Dutch hopes of avenging their 1994 and 1998 last-eight defeats by Brazil were not helped by losing centreback Joris Mathijsen to a knee injury minutes before kick-off.

The consequent disruption to their defensive organisation was quickly apparent, and Robinho had already had one effort chalked off because of a debatable offside call against Dani Alves by the time he gave the Selecao a tenth-minute lead.

Felipe Melo, the Juventus midfielder called up to replace the suspended Ramires, was the provider, sliding a ball from deep inside his own half through the heart of the Dutch defence.

Robinho`s run from the inside left channel went untracked by John Heitinga and the forward was able to place his shot beyond the left glove of Maarten Stekelenburg.

Juan might have made it two midway through the half. The Roma star looked like a born striker as he got across his marker to meet an Alves cross at the near post, but his shot was lifted high over the bar.

Heitinga, who had already been booked for an off-the-ball trip on Luis Fabiano, was fortunate not to be sent off for a foul on Kaka as the Brazilians started to turn on their style.

A Robinho dribble, a Fabiano flick and suddenly Kaka`s curling shot had forced Stekelenburg into a full-stretch save.

Thirty-five minutes had elapsed before the Dutch managed to produce a strike on target, Wesley Sneijder thumping a long-range free-kick into Julio Cesar`s midriff.

The Dutch had reason to be grateful to Stekelenburg once more when he got his fingertips to a Maicon drive from wide on the right just before the interval.

BDST: 2058hrs, July 2, 2010