South Africa have been knocked out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing 2-0 to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday morning.
Banyana Banyana made it to the knockout phase for the very first time after finishing second in Group G behind Sweden and ahead of Italy and the Argentina, claiming an historic 3-2 win against the Azzure.
They started started brightly with Thembi Kgatlana, who scored the winner against the Italians, producing the first shot on target target after six minutes. It was however a short-lived moment as the Dutch took the lead in the ninth minute courtesy of Jill Roord who headed the ball in from a rebounded effort that was initiated from a corner kick.
Kgatlana tried to level things in the 12th minute but her effort was brilliant saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. There was a moment of agony as Jermaine Seoposenwe went down in pain from a challenge and had to be taken off a stretcher and replaced by 20-year-old University of Pretoria student Wendy Shongwe in the 30th minute.
Kgatlana was at her was again on hand to score as eight additional minutes were given in the first half but Van Domselaar had to be alert to stop the 2018 African Women’s Player of the Year winner.
South Africa tried to hit the Netherlands on the counter at the start of the second half but a swift move that started from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart ended with Kgatlana dragging the ball wide.
The Dutch thought they had taken a 2-0 lead when Lieke Martens scored in the 54th minute but it was ruled out for offside. It finally stuck for Andries Jonker’s ladies 14 minutes later when Swart could not handle Lineth Beerensteyn’s effort which easily went in.
South Africa were very close to making it 2-1 in the 73rd minute but Van Domselaar was quick to make a double save from Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo. The Netherlands could have been 3-0 up with 10 minutes left on the clock but Beerensteyn was deemed to be offside.
Netherlands go through to the Quarter-finals of the #FIFAWWC and South Africa bow out of a historic World Cup.#BeyondGreatness #AfrosportTV pic.twitter.com/hPaNH2jDQT
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) August 6, 2023
Kgatlana had one last chance in added time to score but her shot was deflected by Stephanie van der Gragt and saved by Van Domselaar who was awarded as the player of the match with her clean sheet and seven saves.
The Netherlands will now face Spain in the quarter-finals after La Roja whopped Spain 5-1 in Auckland on Saturday.
