The Netherlands will meet Spain in the quarterfinals. (Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Victory in the first round of the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 came with a loss for the Netherlands.
The Dutch defeated South Africa 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Sunday and met Spain in the quarter-finals. They will have to play this game without star midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk, who received her second yellow card of the tournament and will be automatically suspended for one game.
Apart from the yellow card, not much went wrong for the Netherlands. Things struck early in the ninth minute when Jill Roord headed in from a corner.
THE OPENER!
Jill Roord gives the Netherlands a 1-0 lead early on 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/Xyj9PFmp2k
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
South Africa had a good chance to equalize in first-half added time, but Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar denied a chance for Thembi Kgatlana.
The lead widened to two midway through the second minute when the South African goalkeeper went wide of a shot from Lineth Beerensteyn.
BEERENSTEYN MAKES IT TWO ✌️🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/T9BqWhsn6g
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
Overall, it was a dominant performance from the Netherlands, who lost the 2019 World Cup final to USWNT in 2019 but won Group E thanks in part to a draw against the Americans. According to Fox, the Oranges controlled possession 72% of the game with a 539-163 lead on passes. South Africa were indeed close in terms of shots (14:11) and shots on goal (7:7), but the Dutch had the more promising chances.
The quarterfinal match between the Netherlands and Spain, who dominated Switzerland 5-1 on Friday, is scheduled for Thursday at 9pm ET at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
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