(Sydney) The Netherlands, vice-world champions in 2019, beat South Africa (2-0), often dangerous, Sunday in Sydney and join Spain in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The “Oranje”, first in their group ahead of the United States, overcame the reigning African champions, 54th FIFA. They had to rely on their offensive efficiency.
From the 9th minute, following a corner, midfielder Jill Roord, who made her size speak, opened the scoring with a header after a first header from Parisian Lieke Martens, who then had a goal disallowed for offside (54th).
The PSG midfielder is also behind the second goal: she served striker Lineth Beerensteyn, who took advantage of a hand error from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart (68th).
The historic journey of the South Africans therefore stopped on Sunday at the Sydney Football Stadium, still sold out. But as since the start of the World Cup, the players of coach Desiree Ellis were often dangerous on the counterattack, pushed by the 40,230 spectators.
The new star of his country, striker Thembi Kgatlana, 27, made the difference with every ball and shook the “Oranje” defense several times (6, 12, 35, 64, 90 2) . A permanent threat with his speed and dribbling.
But the captain stumbled every time, especially when she missed an equalizer, after a face to face just before half-time with goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar (45 1). Ten minutes before, she had made a good sequence, after a stepover, but her shot had been easily captured (35th).
She was already the one who gave South Africa victory against Italy (3-2) in added time, in the last group match.
The Racing Louisville striker in the United States then gave her country the first victory in its history in the World Cup for its second participation after 2019, as well as the first qualification in the round of 16 of a World Cup, men and women. women confused.
“Look, we’ve been underestimated so many times before,” the South African manager had warned the day before the match, “I think this group has shown that nothing can stand in their way.”
The offensive efficiency of the Oranges and the solidity of the defense, which bent but never sank, got the better of the “Banyana Banyana”, who also stood out off the field for their collective dances.
The Dutch, who had already beaten (5-1) the South Africans in a friendly match last year, will meet Spain in the quarter-finals next Friday in Wellington.