Netherlands beats South Africa 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup

SYDNEY — Netherlands had simply superior to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, but star midfielder Danielle van de Donk regarded inconsolable.

Her yellow card within the second half of the 2-0 win over South Africa on Sunday means she’s going to serve a one-match suspension. Her tears have been possible in realization that she might have performed her remaining match of the event if the Dutch lose to Spain within the quarterfinals.

But Netherlands coach Andries Jonker had no time for any negativity.

“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,” he stated. “So it means it’s not the last game for Danielle. We want to beat Spain, then she can come back into the tournament.”

The Dutch definitely seem like contenders once more after dropping to the United States within the World Cup remaining 4 years in the past.

After ending above the Americans in Group E this time, they overcame South Africa at Sydney Football Stadium by means of objectives from Jill Roord within the first half and Lineth Beerensteyn within the second.

PHOTOS: Netherlands beats South Africa 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.

Spain is among the many title favorites, and backed up its billing with a 5-1 win over Switzerland within the spherical of 16.

Netherlands needed to work more durable for its place within the final eight, with goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar producing a player-of-the-match efficiency with a string of saves to maintain South Africa at bay.

Her teammates have been fast to acknowledge her game-saving efforts, dashing to embrace her after the ultimate whistle.

“We felt we could have won this game and if I look back, we should have with the opportunities that we had, but we didn’t take them,” South Africa coach Desiree Ellis stated. “If you look at their goalkeeper getting the player of the match, it tells you how well we played.”

Netherlands was additionally aided by an error from South Africa keeper Kaylin Swart, who let Beerensteyn’s weak effort squirm out of her grasp and over the road.

Just like van de Donk, Swart appeared devastated after the ultimate whistle as teammates and employees consoled her.

“Nobody in the world has a perfect game,” Ellis stated. “You are going to make a mistake and unfortunately that happened, but she kept us in the game as well.”

South Africa had already exceeded expectations by advancing to the knockout stage for the primary time after its dramatic 3-2 win over Italy in its remaining group recreation.

But the objectives from Roord within the ninth minute and Beerensteyn within the 68th ended its unlikely run.

Netherlands went shut instantly earlier than Roord’s purpose when Esmee Brugts swung in a curling shot that Swart needed to push over the bar.

Roord struck from the ensuing nook.

Sherida Spitse’s cross was headed towards purpose by Lieke Martens, which compelled Swart into motion once more. But from her save, the ball looped within the air and Roord headed over the road from shut vary for her fourth purpose of the event.

Van de Donk was near extending the lead however was denied by the toes of Swart from contained in the field, and Kgatlana examined Van Domselaar as South Africa confirmed its menace on the break.

Kgatlana went nearer nonetheless when by means of on purpose simply earlier than the halftime, however couldn’t discover a well past Van Domselaar. The South Africans ended the half the stronger as Kgatlana repeatedly burst past the protection.

Its response to going behind was much more spectacular, contemplating it needed to deal with accidents to Jermaine Seoposenwe and Bambanani Mbane within the first half.

The Netherlands lineup regained management after the restart and thought they’d doubled their lead when Martens turned and transformed within the 54th. But their celebrations have been reduce quick when it was dominated out on VAR evaluation for offside.

South Africa provided much less menace because it struggled to get possession and Netherlands scored its second after Swart’s error.

Next up for Netherlands is Friday’s extremely anticipated match towards Spain in Wellington, New Zealand.

“It’s a massive game and I’m really excited about it because Spain, it’s a really strong team,” Beerensteyn stated. “But I also know that we are a strong team, so it will be like a real final actually.”

South Africa, in the meantime, exits after making a giant impression on a event the place a few of the conventional favorites like Olympic champion Canada, Germany and Brazil have been eradicated within the group stage.