The Netherlands, Sweden closes in Euro quarter
SHEFFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) – The Netherlands kept an exciting fightback from Portugal to approach a place in the European Championship 2022 quarter-final with a 3-2 victory over Portugal, while Sweden struck late to beat Switzerland 2-1 early yesterday.
The Dutch were without star striker Vivianne Miedema due to a positive fall for the coronavirus, but got off to a flying start in Leigh when Damaris Egurrola and Stefanie van der Gragt struck within the first 16 minutes.
Portugal would not even be in the tournament if it were not for Russia’s exclusion due to the invasion of Ukraine. Carole Costa’s penalty reduced the lead before half time and Diana Silva’s thumping nod equalized two minutes into the second half.
The Netherlands thought they had struck back immediately when Jill Roord’s goal was ruled out by a VAR check for offside.
But Mark Parson’s team dug out of trouble shortly after the hour mark when Danielle Van de Donk’s astonishing blow outside the box went into the top corner.
Victory takes the Netherlands to the top of Group C, four points on par with the Swedes, where both sides only need one point from their last group game to advance.
As second in the world, Sweden was among the favorites before the tournament but has so far struggled to reach the highest gear.
Switzerland’s preparations had also been shaken by a medical error in the camp that forced them to cancel training on Monday.
But they frustrated Peter Gerhardsson’s ladies for 53 minutes on Bramall Lane before Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo finished an excellent team move.
Switzerland struck back within two minutes through a fine finish by Paris Saint-Germain’s Ramona Bachmann.
Gerhardsson was forced to turn to his bench for inspiration and Hanna Bennison made the winner, with her first international goal 11 minutes behind time.