Relating to
- Spain v Netherlands, live today: Women’s World Cup match
- eight stars from
- Darts from Beerensteyn to the USA: “You should talk less and do more on the pitch”
What works, works. And Jorge Vilda stayed true to his word. He steered the team into the quarterfinals with ten of the eleven starters from the round of 16 clash against Switzerland. The sole alteration saw Marion replacing Selma to reinforce the midfield when needed.
The clash carried the weight of a historic moment for the Spanish side, and with Antipodes housing a sizable Dutch community, orange shirts and scarves filled the stands more than red. Yet the atmosphere remained electric and confident.
full domain
The opening minutes favored the Netherlands as Spain pressed high and lost out in individual battles. The Spanish Reds steadied themselves, playing with purpose, patience, and discipline. They slowly created spaces, found their rhythm, and began to dictate the tempo, slowly asserting control over the game.
Ester found himself in space early, left with a clean look after a well-worked sequence initiated by Marion and finished by Jenni Beautiful, a left-footed strike that lacked pace and goal targeting. The clearest moment of the first half arrived before the twentieth minute when a promising move hit the woodwork twice in quick succession, leaving the crowd breathless but without a breakthrough.
Eleven times and one goal disallowed for Esther
With time winding, the net seemed inevitable to break the deadlock. Oranje managed only a single touch on goal after Brugts sent in a dangerous cross, while Marten and Marion continued to threaten. A well-timed overpass and a late touch by Ester finally found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out as offside with the aid of VAR, a decision that sparked relief and frustration in equal measure.
Spain had already proven the toughest obstacle for the current world number two, subduing a team widely recognized for its defensive organization and attacking bursts. The entire defensive line, along with the tasting collection of attackers, carried a growing confidence as the clock wore on, and the Dutch threats dwindled, even as a long-range effort from Battle Himm narrowly missed the mark.
EXIST justice
After the restart, the flow remained largely unchanged. Holland persisted with their approach while Jonker appeared content with what he saw on the turf. Ester continued to test the resolve of Spain’s defense and, in an unlucky twist, again found himself just short of turning a chance into a goal. The connection between Ester and Marion remained a highlight, amplified by Jenni Beautiful’s moments of magic that electrified the crowd.
A turning point arrived with a penalty appeal that Frappart reviewed after a potential handball incident involving Beerenstein. The referee overturned the on-field call following the VAR check, and Spain breathed again as the decision shifted, with the Dutch left frustrated. Marion, always present when the team needed him, stepped to the spot and slotted the ball away, triggering a frenzy among the Spanish faithful in Wellington.
this time yes
The joy was short-lived, though. Moments after the restart, Van der Gragt peeled off a deep run and delivered a precise cross that found the Dutch equalizer, igniting the Dutch bench and sending the match into extra time.
Salma, isolated on the wing for long stretches, watched as the Netherlands grew in confidence during extra time. The momentum finally shifted in Spain’s favor when the Barça winger seized her chance, controlling the ball, facing the goal, and finishing with a clean strike that would now be remembered as a moment of semifinal-worthy brilliance. It stood as a defining goal in the history of the competition, a strike that carried the weight of living memory for the Spanish squad and its supporters.