The Dutch team recorded a 4-0 victory over Scotland in the Nations League on Friday. The simple victory keeps the Netherlands in the race for an Olympic ticket. Vivianne Miedema made her return in Nijmegen after a serious cruciate ligament injury.
The Dutch team started the game offensively in the NEC stadium, which was sold out with 12,500 supporters. After just twelve minutes, national coach Andries Jonker’s team took the lead through Daniëlle van de Donk, who cleverly put the ball into the goal from close range.
Scotland went for the equalizer, but encountered the Orange defense or goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. The Dutch team did manage to convert the chances into goals: after half an hour, Esmee Brugts coolly scored the rebound after a shot from Jill Roord: 2-0.
In the second half, the Netherlands continued the hunt for goals. Lineth Beerensteyn made it 3-0 after a beautiful pass through the air from Sherida Spitse. Moments later, Beerensteyn headed in her second, which determined the final score.
Seven minutes before the end, De Goffert cheered loudly when Miedema came on. The all-time top scorer was seriously injured in December and had to recuperate for ten months. The Arsenal striker rejoined the Dutch squad for the first time last Monday.
The Dutch team is currently the leader in group A. England won against Belgium (1-0) on Friday and is second with the same number of points. Only the group winner goes to the final round of the Nations League, where a place in the final is good for an Olympic ticket. The Dutch team awaits another confrontation with Scotland on Tuesday. The match at Hampden Park in Glasgow starts at 8.45pm.
Stand groep A
- Nederland 3-6 (+4)
- Engeland 3-6 (+1)
- België 3-4 (+0)
- Schotland 3-1 (-5)
Orange is now efficient
In the first Nations League match against Belgium (2-1 loss), the Dutch team failed to create and utilize opportunities. There seemed to be a different team on the field on Friday evening. The Dutch played offensively and, unlike Scotland, capitalized on the opportunities they got.
In the twelfth minute, Kerstin Casparij, the replacement for the injured Dominique Janssen, made an excellent run on the left. With a bit of luck, her cross ended up with Van de Donk, who deftly tapped the ball in. Scotland tried to force an equalizer, but could not get through the Dutch defense.
The Dutch doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. A shot by Roord was blocked, after which the ball ended up at Brugts’ feet. The Barcelona attacker made it 2-0 with a precise shot into the left corner.
After the break, the celebration in De Goffert became even bigger when Spitse delivered a beautiful pass to Beerensteyn in the 52nd minute. The 97-time international surprised the Scottish keeper with a curved ball: 3-0. While Miedema was closing in, Beerensteyn headed in the 4-0.
Miedema makes his return after more than a year
Miedema made her first minutes for the Dutch team in more than a year. On December 15, she tore her cruciate ligament during an Arsenal match. Before she got injured, the striker was given rest by national coach Andries Jonker.
Due to her injury, 27-year-old Miedema had to miss the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. The attacker made her return to Arsenal on Sunday. She came on a few minutes before the end in the match won against Bristol City (1-2).
On Monday, Miedema took part in the Orange training in Zeist for the first time. Jonker said before the match that he did not know whether the striker was also available for the matches. Miedema finally made her return in the 82nd minute.
Fellow group England won 1-0 against Belgium on Saturday. At the King Power Stadium in Leicester, striker Lauren Hemp scored the only goal in the thirteenth minute. The team of national coach Sarina Wiegman, like the Dutch team, has six points after three matches.
The post first appeared on www.nu.nl