City
Epaper

Netherlands top Sweden 1-0, to face US in Women's WC final

By IANS | Updated: July 4, 2019 08:35 IST

Playing in only their second Women's World Cup, the Netherlands qualified for the final against three-time champion US with a 1-0 win over Sweden in extra time in the second semifinal.

Open in App

The reigning European champions were undefeated coming into the semifinal at Stade de Lyon, while Sweden lost 0-2 to the US in the group stage, reports Efe news.

England and the US put on a terrific display of offence on Tuesday in the first semifinal, but the Swedish and Dutch sides opted for caution.

As neither team had been expected to get this far, the emphasis on avoiding mistakes was understandable on Wednesday, though perhaps not much appreciated by the 48,000-plus in the stands hoping to see fireworks.

Sweden managed two shots in the first half and the Dutch, despite enjoying 53 per cent possession, produced only one chance. The stars Vivianne Miedema for the Netherlands and the Scandinavian side's Stina Blackstenius were nearly invisible.

The Dutch began the second half without their best player in the 2017 European Championship, Lieke Martens, who has been hampered by a foot injury.

The match came alive for a few minutes about midway through the second half.

Netherlands goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal had to be sharp to divert a low strike from Nilla Fischer to the post in the 71st minute.

On the following sequence, a Miedema header forced a heroic save from Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl, who subsequently turned aside a shot by Shanice van de Sanden.

Finally, nine minutes into the first extra-time period, Jackie Groenen, who wears No. 14 jersey of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, put the ball in the Swedish net with a textbook shot into the bottom corner.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: swedenusVivianne MiedemaStina Blackstenius
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalOperation Sindoor: PM Narendra Modi Calls For All-Party Meeting On May 8 After India Strikes On Pakistan Terror Camps

InternationalSweden Mass Shooting: 3 Killed, Multiple Injured in Uppsala Attack

InternationalColorado Nightclub Raid: Over 100 Illegal Immigrants Detain at Underground Nightclub in US; Video Surfaces

BusinessGlobal Tech Firms Eye India for Manufacturing Amid US-China Tensions

InternationalIllinois Plane Crash: 4 Killed After Cessna C180G Aircraft Goes Down After Hitting Power Lines in Trilla

फुटबॉल Realted Stories

FootballIndian women to play Uzbekistan in two International Friendlies

FootballUEFA Champions League: PSG book title clash with Inter Milan, beat Arsenal 2-1 in semis second leg

InternationalParis: 3 Injured, One Critical After Car Drives Into Crowd at Champs-Elysees During PSG Champions League Win Celebration; Video Surfaces

FootballBack with Blue Colts, Bibiano Fernandes hopes to restart on right foot at SAFF U19 Championship

FootballManolo Marquez names 28-member probables squad for Blue Tigers' Kolkata camp