Izuchukwu OkosiOne of the three most talked about games in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand ended on a sour note for South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning as they lost 2-0 to colonial masters, Netherlands.
The winner of the Bayana Bayana versus Oranje girls game were billed to face Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNetherlands manager Andries Jonker says his team have come to the Women’s World Cup “with the conviction that we can beat everybody” after securing a quarter-final spot against Spain.
The Netherlands were forced to endure several anxious moments before defeating South Africa and booking a place in the last eight.
They will have to face Spain without experienced midfielder Danielle van de Donk, who picked up a second yellow card of the tournament and is suspended.
“We have this conviction, it’s not the last game for Danielle. It’s very disappointing she got a yellow card but we can’t change it,” said Jonker.
“Danielle has very specific qualities that we really need and we will miss those qualities.
“But we’ve got a lot of other good midfielders and that’s what we’ll need to work out over the next few days.”
Jill Roord, Manchester City’s new club record signing, nodded the Netherlands ahead but South Africa went close to equalising several times against the 2019 runners-up.
Banyana Banyana captain Thembi Kgatlana was once again a real handful and forced four fine saves from Daphne van Domselaar, Aston Villa’s new goalkeeper, in front of a crowd of 40,233 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Lineth Beerensteyn doubled the lead after a mistake by South Africa keeper Kaylin Swart in the second half.
The Netherlands will return to New Zealand to face Spain in Wellington on Friday at 2am Nigerian time for a place in the semi-finals.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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