In pictures: Netherlands clinches first-ever Women's World Cup semifinal spot
The Oranje got the better of the Italian defence in the second half with two headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt to seal its first-ever semifinal berth, where it will fight either Germany or Sweden.
Netherlands passed the Italian test on Saturday as it made history with double headers in the second half. Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt scored from Sherida Spitse freekicks to progress to its first-ever World Cup semifinal. With the 2-0 victory, the Oranje also confirmed its first Olympic Games qualification. ▲
Vivianne Miedema opened the account for Netherlands in the 70th minute. The header meant this was her third goal of the tournament, becoming the only Netherlands player to score three goals in a single edition. The goal took the 22-year-old's tally to 61 international goals. ▲
Stefanie van der Gragt doubled the lead ten minutes later, with yet another header. This meant that eight of Netherlands’ ten goals at the 2019 Women's World Cup have arrived in the second half; only USA (13) have netted more. ▲
Sherida Spitse, who was involved in both goals on Saturday in Valenciennes, became the player with more assists than any other Netherlands player in Women’s World Cup history (4), with all four of them coming via set-pieces. ▲
The loss continued Italy's ill fate against European oppositions at the World Cup - La Azzure have never won against them, losing three and drawing once. Two of those losses have come in quarterfinal clashes (vs Netherlands, 2019 and Norway, 1991). ▲
