Dutch delight then. The one black mark for them is that Danielle van de Donk will miss the quarter-final against Spain after picking up a second booking in today’s game. Her absence will be one for the Netherlands camp to ponder over the coming days but for now, they can celebrate victory over South Africa. Here’s your match report.
And with that, I’ll bid farewell for now. Until next time.
Here’s South Africa coach Desiree Ellis: “We are very proud of the players. They gave their all today and they know that they were in the game.”
So, the Dutch move through to the last eight. They deserve to be there after dominating possession throughout this encounter and doing enough to keep South Africa at bay on the occasions when they did threaten going forward – notably for a period at the end of the first half. Banyana Banyana will be upset with the nature of the second Dutch goal – a goalkeeping howler – but they can reflect on a hugely successful tournament and be proud of a run to the last 16 for the first time.
Full-time: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
90+4 mins: There it is! All over in Sydney and the Netherlands will play Spain in a mouthwatering quarter-final! South Africa’s thrilling run at the tournament ends.
90+3 mins: Here goes Kgatlana with one final push for South Africa! A decent effort from range, well saved by Van Domselaar! Kgatlana has been excellent. As has Van Domselaar.
90+2 mins: Martens releases Casparij on the left and her ball in is a decent one, but Beerensteyn can’t make anything of it. Here come some subs – two for South Africa and two for the Dutch.
90+1 mins: Biyana sends a wild effort flying well wide of the post and it doesn’t look like there’s any way back for South Africa. The Netherlands are preparing to make another couple of subs.
89 mins: Four minutes of added time to be played.
87 mins: So, it looks like the Dutch can look forward to a quarter-final against Spain. Time to rest a couple of players – Brugts and Pelova off, Lynn Wilms and Kerstin Casparij on.
86 mins: Still the Netherlands press for another goal. Biyana shows a bit of frustration with a poor challenge on Beerensteyn. No card though.
84 mins: Beerensteyn runs onto another ball through – this time’s she’s onside. She pulls up and lays off to Roord, who fires well over the bar.
82 mins: Around 10 minutes remaining in Sydney and time is running out for South Africa to retain an interest in the tournament. They’ll need the ball if they are to turn things around though.
80 mins: That certainly would have been that but it was the right call – and confirmed as such by the technology.
Disallowed goal!
79 mins: Beerensteyn finds the back of the net after taking it round the keeper and slotting home, but the flag is up, and it won’t count!
76 mins: A sellout attendance of 40,233 is announced on the loudspeaker. Wonderful support.
75 mins: And that will be Van de Donk’s last contribution to this game. She’s pulled off and Damaris Egurrola comes on.
74 mins: Down at the other end, here’s another chance for the Dutch! But Van de Donk, who perhaps should have had a shot herself, lays it off for Beerensteyn instead. But her pass is slightly too heavy and Swart is off her line quickly to save.
73 mins: That’s a great response to going two down. Van Domselaar again proves her worth in the Dutch goal.
72 mins: Oooh! Banyana Banyana go so close to pulling one back! Motlhalo fires a low drive that Van Domselaar is equal to, tipping the ball around the post for a corner!
70 mins: Roord! The Dutch midfielder goes close as her effort takes a deflection past the upright!
69 mins: That was a horror show and so disappointing for Banyana Banyana. What a way to concede. It’s not as if Dutch domination of possession doesn’t warrant a two-goal lead, but what a way to give it.
Goal! Netherlands 2-0 South Africa (Beerensteyn 68)
68 mins: Oh no! A calamitous error from South Africa keeper Kaylin Swart! She allows Beerensteyn’s shot through her hands – a ball she has caught a million times throughout her career – and into the back of the net! The Netherlands have one foot in the quarter-final!
66 mins: South Africa can’t seem to keep possession at the moment. Van de Donk gets a yellow card for a high foot and she will miss the next game against Spain, should the Dutch get through.
64 mins: The game has slowed right down. But hang on, a first-time clearance finds Kgatlana, who speeds onto it and into the box. A well timed challenge just nicks the ball off her foot though. A brief moment of danger for the Dutch.
63 mins: The Netherlands are having to be patient here. They seem happy to play the ball around and bide their time. All the while, South African legs will be tiring.
62 mins: Van der Gragt appears to have taken a blow to the head. The ref runs over to check on her, but she’s OK to continue.
60 mins: More Dutch possession. But the final ball is not there as Beerensteyn’s prod through doesn’t reach another orange shirt.
59 mins: It’s all Netherlands at the moment – South Africa haven’t really found the spark that they had at the end of the second half.
57 mins: Let’s not forget an equaliser could potentially send this tie into extra-time, and penalties. Gulp.
55 mins: That’s a real lifeline for South Africa. You feel that at 2-0 the game might have been beyond them. As it is, they are still in this one. Disappointment for Martens, who did brilliantly to turn on the ball and fire home. But in VAR we have to trust.
Disallowed goal!
54 mins: Martens! The ball is slipped in to Pelova who centres for Martens. The PSG striker does brilliantly to swivel on the ball before finishing past Swart! And the Dutch think they have a crucial 2-0 lead! But there’s a whiff off offside and VAR will check it. Offside it is! And South Africa breathe a sigh of relief!
52 mins: This corner’s not Spitse’s best though and Swart is able to come out and claim easily enough.
51 mins: Martens and Brugts play a neat one-two – it doesn’t come to anything this time but still nice to watch. The Dutch keep coming forward and they win another corner. Danger for South Africa again. Over goes Spitse to take it…
49 mins: Just earlier, the camera cut away to the South African bench, and it was a sad sight to see Mbane on crutches. She’ll be very upset not to be out on the pitch and able to influence this game any further
48 mins: Spitse delivers expertly, Beerenstyn is there and tries to hook it goalwards. But there’s nothing doing this time.
47 mins: An early corner for the Dutch now. Can they start the second half as they did the first?
Second half under way
46 mins: Back under way in Sydney. No changes to tell you about at the break.
Enjoying the Guardian’s coverage of the Women’s World Cup? This live blog is only possible thanks to funding from our fans all around the world. We don’t have a paywall, so everything we publish is open and free for everyone. Unlike so many others, the Guardian is fiercely independent – meaning we don’t have a billionaire owner who can censor us.
Fund quality sports journalism from the Guardian today from as little as £1. It takes less than a minute but makes a huge difference.
Well, well, well. There’s plenty more to come in this one. The Dutch have dominated possession but have been unable to convert that into goals and lead by just one. And a South African fightback as the half drew to a close showed they are still very much in this – only two excellent saves from Daphne van Domselaar kept their lead intact.
Half-time: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
45+7 mins: There’s the whistle! The Dutch lead thanks to Jill Roord’s close-range header, but South Africa are still very much in this one at the break.
45+5 mins: Oh no, another South African player hits the deck as Ramalepe and Van de Donk collide. She’s back up soon enough though, much to the relief of Banyana Banyana.
45+3 mins: Swart sets off another counterattack with a confident aerial claim and immediate release. Kgatlana again fashions a shooting chance! Again saved by Van Domselaar! Shongwe can’t follow up on the rebound! But very encouraging signs from South Africa!
45+1 mins: Kgatlana has been South Africa’s brightest player. A real handful for the Dutch defence when able to use her pace. Seven minutes of added time to be played at the end of this half, by the way.
45 mins: Oh! What a chance for South Africa! It stems from a loose Dutch ball in the middle of the park. Kgatlana is released beautifully… she’s clean through on goal! But Van Domselaar makes an excellent save and Kgatlana can’t capitalise on the rebound! What a chance for an equaliser. Heated words are had in the Dutch defence.
43 mins: This is nice approach play from South Africa now. Some neat interchanges involve a number of players. The ball eventually comes to Motlhalo, whose neat footwork opens up a shooting chance. Over the bar this time, but encouraging again from Banyana Banyana.
41 mins: Janssen is over the free-kick… she has a crack on goal but it’s over the bar and Swart is not brought into any further action.
40 mins: Kevin Prince Boateng and Tim Cahill are spotted in the crowd during this break in play. Mbane’s day is over – what a shame. She’s stretchered off the pitch to applause from the crowd. Tiisetso Makhubela will come on to replace her.
39 mins: Mbane gets treatment on the ground as the Dutch plot something from the free-kick. A Mexican wave goes around the stadium. A stretcher is called for Mbane – this isn’t good at all.
38 mins: Martens wins a free-kick in a dangerous area as Mbane makes a clumsy challenge. The South African comes out of the collision worse off though and she appears to be in quite some pain.
37 mins: Brugts again fancies her chances from distance but no dice this time.
36 mins: Kgatlana brings Van Domselaar into action with a crisp strike! That’s what they’re capable of on the break. Kgatlana, who has been bright, fashions as shooting chance after several stepovers bamboozle her marker.
35 mins: The sun is peering out from behind the clouds now, as the Netherlands again find Martens in space in an advanced position through the middle. But the ball is turned over and South Africa break….
33 mins: For all the Dutch possession, you get the feeling South Africa still pose a threat on the break. They have a lot of pace going forward, which could cause problems.
32 mins: Again the Netherlands are happy to spray the ball about and keep the ball while they try to work out how to break down the South African defence.
30 mins: South Africa are indeed going to make a change, but it’s Wendy Shongwe who will come on, not Cesane.
Updated
28 mins: Ooh! Close to a second for the Dutch! Van de Donk lets a throw in go past her before swivelling and running into the box. She lets fly! That’s a decent stop by Swart though!
27 mins: Martens heads off on a weaving run, into the South Africa box, but she can’t get past the final defender and the ball is cleared to safety this time.
25 mins: South Africa are back up to a full compliment but they may still make a change soon. Anyway, they have to deal with another Dutch attack for the time being.
24 mins: Hang on a minute. Noxolo Cesane looked like she was about to come on but Seoposenwe is back out there again. A bit of confusion.
23 mins: This doesn’t look good for Seoposenwe. She’s gone back down and it doesn’t look like she’ll be able to continue. Yes, her race is run.
21 mins: Martens nearly finds Beerensteyn with a clever through pass… it’s just cut out, but the pressure is building.
19 mins: South Africa are struggling to get the ball now, and when they do get it, it’s not for long.
17 mins: Another chance for the Dutch! It stems from a South Africa mistake. Pelova does well on the right, cutting back before sending over a cross which eventually falls for Van de Donk, who sees her shot repelled! A brief moment of chaos ensues. The ball is eventually cleared, but Seoposenwe appears to have sustained an injury amid all that. She is helped from the field.
15 mins: Credit to South Africa – they have not let that goal knock them off their gameplan. But they do face an uphill battle now.
13 mins: Jill Roord’s having an excellent tournament. That was the Manchester City midfielder’s fourth goal of this World Cup.
12 mins: Well perhaps here’s an answer – Banyana Banyana look to hit back straight away. What a run from Kgatlana! She runs onto a ball threaded through, skins Van der Gragt and lets fly! Tipped over by Swart! Great effort.
10 mins: Well, it’s all going to plan for the Dutch so far. Interesting to see how South Africa will respond to such an early goal.
Goal! Netherlands 1-0 South Africa (Roord 9)
9 mins: The Dutch take the lead as Roord heads home from close range! The corner goes to the near post where Martens stoops to get a header on target. Swart saves, but it balloons up and it’s easy for Roord to nod the ball over the line and put her team ahead!
Updated
8 mins: Brugts curls one from the edge of the box, forcing Swart to tip over! Corner to the Netherlands.
7 mins: The Dutch win the first corner for the game… nothing come of it though but the women in orange are back on the front foot soon enough…
5 mins: Ooh! The first attempt on goal come from South Africa! Kgatlana runs onto a neat through pass and hits it on target! It’s easy enough for Van Domselaar though, but still, encouraging from Banyana Banyana!
3 mins: The Dutch are clearly keen to keep possession in these early stages but Janssen over runs it slightly here and South Africa pick up the ball. A lofted ball over the top towards Magaia is overhit shortly afterwards though and their spell with the ball is all too brief.
2 mins: The Netherlands start at a sedate pace, knocking the ball comfortably around the back. But here they go now, with a pass forward to Martens but the PSG forward’s control lets her down and the ball goes out for a throw.
First half under way
1 min: And we’re off! The Netherlands, of course, are in all orange, South Africa in all black. We’ll know who will play Spain in the quarter-finals in about 90 mins – or maybe more. The Dutch get us under way.
And the national anthems. Rousing stuff from both. I don’t know about you though, I’m ready for the football to start.
Here come the teams out into a pretty full-looking stadium. The crowds, certainly in Australia, have been exceptional so far, and the tournament is being widely lauded for its success.
We’re less than 10 minutes away from kick-off in Sydney. And it’s time for the Welcome to Country. Lovely stuff, as the crowd is welcomed to Gadigal country.
“Mike, greetings from California,” writes Mary Waltz. “It’s a joy not to need to mainline coffee to be able stay awake. Normally I would say the Netherlands in a walk over but this is the anything can happen World Cup.”
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from the tournament so far, it’s not to make predictions (certainly I won’t be). Germany, Canada and Brazil have all fallen already, and with the rise of African nations this year, of course anything is possible today.
Desiree Ellis, South Africa’s coach, is refusing to get carried way with what her team has achieved so far. “The history is there but it means nothing at this moment,” she says in pre-match interview with Optus.
On today’s game: “We just have to make sure that we play our game as well. We have to make sure, first of all that we don’t concede, because we always going to create chances and then we have to manage the game. I think the team that wins today is a team that executes the plan better than the other one.”
The Dutch have threats all over the park, but one player everyone seems to be talking about this tournament is Esmee Brugts. The youngster hit two stunning goals in the win over Vietnam and will be one to watch today.
The Dutch are out in force in Sydney.
Oranje party! 🟠#NED | #RSA | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/9drY01rSPu
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 6, 2023
Fifa had the Netherlands at ninth in its world rankings heading into this tournament and South Africa at 54th (that’s so far down the list, it required a scroll to the second page on the Fifa website to find them). BUT, how things have changed. Fifa haven’t updated their rankings and won’t do so until after the tournament, so you’ll have to rely on our very own, which have the Dutch in fourth at the conclusion of the group stage, and South Africa in 10th.
Weather update: I can tell you that it’s overcast in Sydney’s east this morning. The temperature is around the 15C mark, but when the sun popped out earlier, it seemed significantly warmer. Some rain overnight will ensure a decent playing surface. There might be some more rain later in the day, but all in all, pretty ideal playing conditions.
Line-ups
Here are today’s teams. The Dutch make just one change – Juventus star Lineth Beerensteyn is back after injury and replaces Katja Snoeijs in the starting XI.
1 Daphne van Domselaar
8 Sherida Spitse
3 Stefanie van der Gragt
20 Dominique Janssen
17 Victoria Pelova
6 Jill Roord
14 Jackie Groenen
10 Danielle van de Donk
22 Esmee Brugts
7 Lineth Beerensteyn
11 Lieke Martens
South Africa also make one change – Kholosa Biyana is back after a ban for picking up two yellows in their opening two games. Robyn Moodaly makes way for her.
1 Kaylin Swart
2 Lebogang Ramalepe
13 Bambanani Mbane
4 Noko Matlou
7 Karabo Dhlamini
19 Kholosa Biyana
3 Bongeka Gamede
8 Hildah Magaia
10 Linda Motlhalo
12 Jermaine Seoposenwe
11 Thembi Kgatlana
Updated
South Africa’s win over Italy – their first at a World Cup finals – was a rip-roarer. But it wasn’t just hailed as a success on the pitch – the implications off it will also be felt for years to come.
After a row with the South African Football Association (SAFA) over bonuses, the team appeared to have moved on, and were hailed far and wide. South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa sent his congratulations, saying “You have lifted our spirits and made us immensely proud. Bring the cup home!”
“This is a historic moment for South African football. This is a historic moment for women’s sport in the country,” added minister of sport Zizi Kodwa.
Here’s how they did it in case you need a reminder:
Preamble
Hello and welcome once again. Here we are then, the knockout rounds, do-or-die, win-or-bust time. The field has already lost two runners after yesterday’s opening round of 16 matches – Switzerland bowed out, emphatically so, while Norway also said their goodbyes – and another two will follow today. Fascinatingly, one of those will be the world No 1 USA or world No 3 Sweden when they meet later on in Melbourne, but for now our focus is very much on Sydney, where the impressive Netherlands meet South Africa, who have delivered one of the stories of the tournament so far.
The Dutch qualified top of their Group E, above the aforementioned US, and signed off from the group stage with a 7-0 tonking of Vietnam, while Banyana Banyana went through thanks to an incredible last-gasp winner against Italy, in a victory that has been labelled as a historic moment for the women’s game in South Africa. More on that in a bit.
Kick-off at the Sydney Football Stadium is in an hour. Stick with us for the build-up, and in the meantime, feel free to get in touch on the email or Twitter (or whatever it’s called these days) details above. Let’s do this!
