Dutch footballers suffered a hopeless defeat on Friday in a friendly match against Spain: 1-0. In fact, the Orangemen didn’t create a single opportunity and owe to goalkeeper Sarri Van Veenindal the score was not higher.
Patricia Guijaro scored the only goal of the match at Marbella Municipal Stadium in the 31st minute.
Spain is ranked 12th in the FIFA ranking and is eight places below the Netherlands. However, national coach Jorge Vilda has access to almost the entire FC Barcelona team, Lieke Martens who dominated as never before this season.
The women of Orange will play an exhibition match on Tuesday, then in Nijmegen against Australia (ranked seventh in the world). National coach Sarina Wegman’s squad is using these friendly matches with the major nations in preparation for the Olympic Games next summer in Tokyo.
The European champions won in February against Belgium (1-6) and Germany (2-1) well. The Dutch national team’s previous loss was last November in an exhibition match against world champion USA (0-2).
Orange women donated a signed shirt to Spanish Virginia Torricella, who is recovering from a brain tumor.
Van Finindal prevents a bigger defeat
Spain, which joined Barcelona with eight men, was much stronger than Orange in the first half. Van Vinendal prevented cleverly blocking attempts by Alexia Butelas (free kick) and Jennifer Hermoso (free shooting opportunity) that the home team quickly took the lead.
Half an hour later, the Spanish women scored the deserved opening goal in Marbella. Guijarro took the far post, after the successful substitute in the corner. The 22-year-old midfielder appeared to be offside, but the goal was approved.
The Dutch national team had no successful attack, but in the 42nd minute Wegman’s side were close to an equalizer. Guijarro almost extended a cross from Dominique Janssen into her team’s goal. The ball went off the post through her knee.
Also in the second half, the orange women couldn’t make much of an impression, and came one after the other from the Spanish attack on Van Vinedal. The superstar had an excellent reaction right after the break and Aitana Ponmati saw a goal for the tape twenty minutes before the end.
Shanice van de Sanden got the Orange team’s only real chance ahead of time, but the substitute couldn’t get her head off a cross from Vivianne Miedema. Orange leaves Spain with a lot of homework, more than three months before the games start.
Spain was much stronger than the Netherlands in Marbella.
Spain was much stronger than the Netherlands in Marbella.
picture: ANP
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