The Dutch women’s team won the friendly match against South Africa on Tuesday evening without any problems. Four days after the 12-0 victory over Cyprus, the team of national coach Mark Parsons won 5-1 at the Cars Jeans Stadium. Damaris Egurrola scored twice as a substitute. The midfielder of top club Olympique Lyon was the most discussed international in the run-up to the international match, because she does not speak Dutch, but did opt for an international career with the Dutch.
The the Dutch squad started with two changes in the starting eleven compared to the game against Cyprus. In right-back position Lynn Wilms replaced Caitlin Dijkstra, while Jill Roord was replaced in midfield by Kayleigh van Dooren. Last weekend Roord had a painful wisdom tooth pulled and therefore missed against South Africa. The first opportunity for Vivianne Miedema resulted in a save from keeper Andile Dlamini in the eighth minute, but shortly afterwards the the Dutch opened the score.
Jackie Groenen with a great bang from distance ?? † Now LIVE on ESPN#? #nedzaf pic.twitter.com/c3oDLEYHgH
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Apr 12, 2022
Nice goal from Lineth Beerensteyn! † The attacker punches in nicely after a perfect pass from Marisa Olislagers ??#NEDZAF pic.twitter.com/gClA8pk4KD
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Apr 12, 2022
After South Africa could not clear the ball well, a shooting opportunity arose for Jackie Groenen. From considerable distance she hit the bottom of the bar: 1-0. However, South Africa came alongside halfway through the first half. Aniek Nouwen was unable to keep up with the fast Thembi Kgatlana, allowing the South Africa striker to pick the far corner. Five minutes later, the the Dutch took the lead again. After a measured cross from Marisa Olislagers, Lineth Beerensteyn came in front of her guard and shot diagonally.
With a shot against the inside of the post, Miedema made it 3-1 after preparatory work by Victoria Pelova. At the start of the second half, South Africa were awarded a penalty for an alleged foul by the Greens on Kgatlana. The subsequent penalty by Noko Matlou was far too weak and turned out to be a prey for Sari van Veenendaal. In the remainder of the second half, Egurrola scored twice. The new international of the Dutch was born in the United States as the daughter of a Spanish father and Dutch mother and surprisingly chose the Dutch.
The new the Dutch customer headed in from close range after Esmee Brugts captured the ball, handed out a panna, combined with Pelova and gave a good cross. In stoppage time, substitute South African keeper Kaylin Swart failed to control a Spitse free kick, allowing Egurrola to score in the rebound. The the Dutch squad has thus had a successful international match with no fewer than seventeen goals in two matches, although the the Dutch looked vulnerable in the rear against South Africa.
The the Dutch squad was supposed to play a World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday evening, but the KNVB refused to participate because of the Belarusian government’s contribution to the war in Ukraine. In Group C of the World Cup qualifying series, competitor Iceland won 0-1 against the Czech Republic. As a result, Iceland is in the lead with 15 points from 6 matches, while the the Dutch squad is on 14 points from 6 matches. There is a chance that the the Dutch squad will be awarded a regulatory defeat for the game against Belarus, so Iceland’s victory means bad news for the Lionesses.