In a thrilling Women’s World Cup Group round of 16 soccer match between Netherlands and South Africa at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Referee Yoshimi Yamashita issued a yellow card to Netherlands’ Danielle Van de Donk for a foul on South Africa’s Karabo Dhlamini. This yellow card means that Van de Donk will serve a one-match suspension. Despite Netherlands securing a 2-0 victory over South Africa and advancing to the quarterfinals, Van de Donk appeared inconsolable, perhaps realizing that she may have played her final match of the tournament if the Dutch lose to Spain in the quarterfinals.
Coach Andries Jonker, however, had no time for negativity. He expressed confidence in his team’s abilities and their chances of defeating Spain. He firmly stated, “We’ve come with the conviction that we can beat everybody. And if you say we can beat everybody, it includes all teams, South Africa, but also Spain. So it means it’s not the last game for Danielle. We want to beat Spain, then she can come back into the tournament.”
After losing to the United States in the World Cup final four years ago, the Dutch team is proving to be contenders once again. They finished above the Americans in Group E and defeated South Africa with goals from Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn.
Spain, one of the title favorites, showcased their strength with a 5-1 victory over Switzerland in the round of 16. Netherlands had to work hard to secure their spot in the quarterfinals, with goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar delivering an outstanding performance to keep South Africa at bay. Her teammates recognized her game-saving efforts and celebrated with her after the final whistle.
South Africa, despite their loss, exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage for the first time. Coach Desiree Ellis acknowledged the team’s effort and praised goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, who made a crucial mistake but also made important saves throughout the match.
Netherlands took the lead early on with Jill Roord’s goal in the ninth minute. They came close to extending their lead before halftime, with Esmee Brugts and Lieke Martens creating opportunities. However, it was Roord who found the back of the net again after Swart’s save, heading the ball into the goal for her fourth goal of the tournament.
Despite South Africa’s resilience and threats on the break, they failed to find the equalizer. Netherlands thought they had scored a second goal through Martens but it was ruled out on VAR review for offside. However, they eventually sealed the victory when Swart made an error, allowing Beerensteyn’s shot to go in.
Looking ahead, Netherlands is set to face Spain in a highly anticipated match in Wellington, New Zealand. The Dutch team is excited about the challenge and confident in their abilities. Meanwhile, South Africa exits the tournament with their heads held high after making a strong impression and surpassing the expectations of many.
It is clear that Netherlands is a force to be reckoned with in the Women’s World Cup once again. Their journey continues as they aim to progress further in the tournament and potentially secure the title.
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