Dutch ease past South Africa to set up Spain quarter-final clash

South Africa’s defender #14 Tiisetso Makhubela (L) and Netherlands’ forward #11 Lieke Martens fight for the ball during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup round of 16 football match between Netherlands and South Africa at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on August 6, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

The Netherlands have advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after overcoming a lively South Africa 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia on Sunday.

Goals either side of the half from Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn were enough to overcome a Banyana Banyana side, who always looked dangerous, but could not convert that threat into a goal.

The Group D winners began on the front foot as Kaylin Swart was forced into a good save after Esmee Brugts hit a curler outside the penalty area.

The Banyana Banyana’s goalkeeper could do nothing about what happened after the resulting corner, however – Jill Roord was in the right place to knock the ball in from close distance, and OranjeLeeuwinnen took the lead.

The goal for Roord meant she became the top all-time scorer for the Netherlands in the FIFA Women’s World Cup with five goals, moving one clear of Lieke Martens-Van Leer (4).

Injury blows to Jermaine Seoposenwe and Bambanani Mbani forced Desiree Ellis to shuffle the deck earlier than she would have liked.

Nonetheless, they grew into the game as the half wore on, and were a constant threat in transition.

Their best opportunities of the half came through the pace of Thembi Kgatlana, who forced Daphne van Domselaar into several saves.

The break meant that the Dutch could regroup and regain a modicum of control over proceedings.

They thought they had doubled their lead after a wonderful