Dutch women have narrow escape against Japan, will now meet Italy

The Dutch women's World Cup squad. Photo: KNVB Media
Photo: KNVB Media

Two goals from Lieke Martens put the Dutch women’s football team into the quarter finals of the World Cup, as they beat Japan 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

The winning goal came from a controversial second half penalty after Japanese player Saki Kumagai was judged to have committed a handball in the penalty area.

Sherida Spitse agreed to let Martens take the shot. ‘I asked if I could take it,’ Martens said after the game. ‘I was feeling good during the match and luckily Sherida let me have a go.’

Struggling

‘We were really struggling in the second half,’ Dutch coach Sarina Wiegmann told the Fifa website after the game.

‘A lot of that had to with Japan’s qualities. There was no pressure on the ball. That shows how good a team Japan is. I can start seeing things we did badly, but it was definitely Japan playing well too.’

Oranje, who have never proceeded so far in a women’s World Cup, will meet Italy in the quarter finals on Saturday, June 29.

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