The Netherlands defeated South Africa 2-0 in their round of 16 match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Sunday. Goals from Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn were enough to secure the win for the Dutch, who will now face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Roord opened the scoring in the ninth minute, heading in a corner from Esmee Brugts. Beerensteyn doubled the Dutch lead in the 68th minute, after goalkeeper Kaylin Swart made a mistake.
South Africa had their chances, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Thembi Kgatlana was their most dangerous player, but she was denied by Daphne van Domselaar on several occasions.
The Netherlands’ win means that they have now reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the third time in their history. They will face Spain, who are the current holders of the European Championship, in the next round.
Jill Roord Becomes First Dutch Player to Score Four Goals at World Cup
Jill Roord’s goal against South Africa was her fourth of the tournament, making her the first Dutch player to score four goals at a Women’s World Cup.
Roord, who plays for Wolfsburg in Germany, has been one of the Netherlands’ most impressive players in Australia. She has been a constant threat in attack, and her goalscoring record is a testament to her quality.
The 25-year-old is now the Netherlands’ leading scorer at the tournament, and she will be hoping to add to her tally in the quarter-finals against Spain.
Netherlands Set Up Quarter-final Clash with Spain
The Netherlands’ victory over South Africa sets up a quarter-final clash with Spain on Friday. The two teams have met once before at a major tournament, with Spain winning 1-0 in the group stage of the 2019 World Cup.
