Dunedin delight as Dutch put seven past Vietnam to top group

 

[August 01, 2023]  DUNEDIN, New Zealand (Reuters) -Esmee Brugts netted two long-range stunners as the Netherlands rediscovered their scoring touch in a crushing 7-0 win over Vietnam on Tuesday, reaching the Women's World Cup knockouts in style and locking up top spot in Group E.

The Dutch had only scored once in each of their two previous games but, knowing goal difference could decide the group winners, were 4-0 up inside 25 minutes, with Brugts' curled effort the pick of the bunch.

Her second goal in the 57th minute was a carbon copy of the first and put the Netherlands 6-0 ahead before Jill Roord also bagged her second of the night to wrap up the emphatic win, the biggest of the tournament so far.

"I'll surely be looking back with a happy feeling," Brugts said. "I scored two but the rest of the team also played well.

"The confidence level is the same as before the game. We wanted to be ranked first in the group. We managed to do so, and that's nice."

The Netherlands were expected to finish behind the United States in the group but the defending champions were held to a goalless draw by Portugal in Auckland and ended in second place in Group E, two points off the summit.

The 2019 runners-up will travel to Sydney for their last 16 tie on Sunday and are likely to face Italy, who sit in second place behind Sweden in Group G.

Although they were missing all-time top scorer Vivianne Miedema due to injury, the Dutch had five different goalscorers against Vietnam, who had already been eliminated after losing their first two games.

Lieke Martens, Katja Snoeijs, Roord and Danielle van de Donk also scored in the first half and the Netherlands had a staggering 42 attempts at goal overall, including 17 on target. By contrast, Vietnam managed five shots but none on target.

Dominique Janssen launched a wonderful ball from defense into Vietnam's penalty area, where Martens lobbed goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh to put the Netherlands ahead after eight minutes for her 60th international goal.

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group E - Vietnam v Netherlands - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand - August 1, 2023 Netherlands' Danielle van de Donk celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Jill Roord and Sherida Spitse REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Snoeijs slotted in the second three minutes later after being set up by Van de Donk, and Brugts soon added another from distance, her strike from outside the box nestling into the top right corner.

Roord, who had twice fired wide twice, finally got on the scoresheet after volleying in Janssen's cross. Roord drew a fantastic save from Kim Thanh just before halftime, but Van de Donk was on hand to tap in the rebound.

After Brugts' superb sixth with another fierce strike, Roord, who had hit the crossbar, headed in the seventh with seven minutes remaining.

"I was afraid that the gap would be even bigger," Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung said. "We have tried our best but it is clear that we cannot close the gap between us and the Netherlands.

"We have conceded 12 goals in our three games, so our level is low even compared to other Asian teams. But I think our efforts have been great. In this journey, I am satisfied with the spirit of the team."

(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad, editing by Nick Mulvenney and Christian Radnedge)

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