Romee Leuchter and Victoria Pelova came off the bench to assist the Netherlands score three times in the final eight minutes of their match at Bramall Lane; the holders booked their spot in the last eight against France at Rotherham.
After a dramatic 4-1 victory over Switzerland at Bramall Lane, the Netherlands advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2022 thanks goals Romee Leuchter and Victoria Pelova. Switzerland was eliminated from the competition.
In the final ten minutes of the match, the Dutch duo scored three goals between them to give Mark Parsons’ team a decisive victory. The score was tied at 1-1 heading into the final phases of the match.
As a result of this outcome, Switzerland has been eliminated from the competition, while the Netherlands have finished in second place in Group C. This means that the Dutch will play France in the quarterfinals.
Sandy Maendly created Switzerland’s first chance with a curling shot from outside the area that was meant for the top corner, but Daphne van Domselaar made a wonderful stop to tip the ball over the crossbar. Switzerland dominated the first ten minutes of the match, moving the ball efficiently forward.
The Netherlands had a possibility of winning. 20 minutes into the match, Lineth Beerensteyn made a rapid break forward, and her shot deflected off of Gaelle Thalmann, who was the goalie. However, despite the forward being hauled down, the referee checked the video replay, and decided that no penalty would be issued.
Jackie Groenen’s powerful effort was well held by Thalmann while Switzerland continued to pose a threat, with Geraldine Reutler and Ramona Bachmann both coming close to scoring. The Dutch came close again after a smart free-kick that was threaded through a crowd of players in the box; however, Switzerland continued to pose a threat, with Ramona Bachmann and Geraldine Reutler both coming close to scoring.
When Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic was unable to clear a corner, she instead nodded the ball into her own net, giving the lead to the Netherlands three minutes after the break. This terrible own goal gave the Dutch the advantage they needed to take the lead.
After Bachmann set up Reutler with a through ball, Switzerland immediately answered with an equaliser four minutes later. Reutler did not make a single mistake as she tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
After Bachmann set up Reutler with a through ball, Switzerland immediately answered with an equaliser four minutes later. Reutler did not make a single mistake as she tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
In the waning moments of the match, substitutes Leuchter and Pelova caused mayhem by scoring three goals between them. During this time, both teams kept up their intense pursuit of a game-winning goal.
Leuchter scored in the 84th minute with a looping header that caught Thalmann off surprise. Two minutes later, Pelova tucked home from close range, and the goal was eventually given after a lengthy VAR check on the play.
Following Pelova’s original scuffed effort that was taken deep into stoppage time, Leuchter scored her second goal of the match for the Netherlands, capping off a brutal 10-minute stretch that had occurred earlier in the period of added time.