The United States’ Women’s World Cup hopes are on the line under threat as the defending champions face Sweden in the last-16 in Melbourne.
The USA only scraped through Group E as runners-up after Portugal hit the post in stoppage time, with the four-time champions avoiding an early exit by the narrowest of margins.
Vlatko Andonovski’s side are under pressure after failing to win two World Cup group stage matches for the first time in their history, and face a Sweden side who cruised into the last-16 with three wins out of three.
Sweden defeated the USA 3-0 on their way to winning the Olympics silver medal two years ago, and the side ranked third in the world will be confident that they can pull off the upset.
Earlier, Jill Roord scored her fourth goal of the tournament as the Netherlands marched into the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Sydney Football Stadium.
Follow live updates from USA vs Sweden as the World Cup last-16 continues.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: USA vs Sweden
Women’s World Cup last-16 continues with USA vs Sweden in Melbourne
Match kicks off at the Melbourne Football Stadium at 10am BST
USA only narrowly avoided a shock group stage exit against Portugal
Sweden reached last-16 as group winners and thrashed the USA at the Olympics
Full time! Netherlands defeat South Africa 2-0 to set up Spain quarter-final
Women’s World Cup LIVE: USA vs Sweden
06:49 , Jamie Braidwood
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski mounted an impassioned defence of his team’s standards and said criticism of their World Cup campaign was unfair as the defending champions prepare for Sunday’s round of 16 clash against Sweden.
The USA head into their first knock-out clash in Melbourne under fire after having scraped through the group phase with draws against the Netherlands and Portugal.
Retired USA great Carli Lloyd gave a scathing assessment of the Portugal game, saying the post that saved the Americans in stoppage time was “player of the match”.
Andonovski said the criticism was out of order: “For someone again to question the standards …. and mindset of this team after everything that they do, I personally don’t think it’s the right time to do that,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“And I don’t think it’s the right thing as well. I’m very happy with where they’re (the players) at, how they hold themselves accountable and they keep raising the standards.”
Reuters
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Women’s World Cup LIVE: USA vs Sweden
06:48 , Jamie Braidwood
In-form Sweden are confident they can beat holders United States in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup last 16 tie when they go head-to-head on Sunday, the latest in a long list of clashes between the two heavyweights at major tournaments.
The two teams have met in six previous editions of the World Cup, each time in the group stage. Sweden ended the Americans’ 2016 Rio Olympic run in the quarter-final and won 3-0 in the group stage at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
They had contrasting routes to this year’s knockout stage, with Sweden topping their group with a perfect record while the U.S. scraped through after finishing runners-up. But the third-ranked Swedes are not expecting anything less than the best.
“I don’t care about favourites and things like that,” coach Peter Gerhardsson said. “We have the possibility to win the game, and that’s the most important thing… We know what we’re up against.
“You can talk about revenge or underdog mentality. For me, that’s not going to make the difference tomorrow. It’s the players who play. The history is nothing.
“I have great confidence in this squad and in all the preparations that we’ve made… Our feeling is that we believe we can win this game.”
Reuters
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Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
06:37 , Jamie Braidwood
South Africa’s players soaked in the applause at the end; although defeated by the Netherlands, they left the Women’s World Cup with their heads held high. After reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time, a place in the quarter-finals proved to be a step too far but only after they pushed the 2019 runners-up in a contest that could have played out very differently on another day. It took a sensational performance from Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to end South Africa’s dream run.
Van Domselaar was superb, player of the match after denying the excellent Thembi Kgatlana while she threatened to tear the Netherlands apart. Kgatlana was electric, with the noise inside the stadium rising as the waves of South Africa counter-attacks rolled towards goal, Despite Jill Roord’s early opener, the equaliser felt like it was coming as long as Kgatlana could repeatedly run at the terrified Dutch defence. A Netherlands system and philosophy that is built on possession and control could do nothing to stop the South Africa captain once she took off.
But thankfully for the Netherlands, they still had Van Domselaar, and without her this last-16 tie could have veered off course.
South Africa exit the Women’s World Cup having left their mark
06:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Desiree Ellis with a passionate plea for the South Africa team to be given more support and sponsorship:
“We could have won the World Cup. When I look at the tournament and how it unfolded, we could have done it. We don’t want to be in the situation where in four years it’s the same again. We need support from corporates, we need support from the Government, we need a professional league.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:59 , Jamie Braidwood
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis: “We knew we had to score more goals and the chances we had in the first half we could have been out of sight. Yesterday we spoke about underdogs but we have shown at the World Cup that there are no underdogs.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:52 , Jamie Braidwood
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker: “If you said to me before the tournament that Germany and Brazil would be out before the last-16 I wouldn’t have believed you, I wouldn’t have believed that these big teams could be upset and I didn’t expect the other sides to close the gap.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:42 , Jamie Braidwood
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker: “We deserved to win. We played well to start but then we started to play against ourselves. We lost too many balls and helped them play on the counter-attack. But in the end we deserved to win.”
FULL TIME! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:20 , Jamie Braidwood
South Africa will leave with their heads held high – but Kaylin Swart looks devastated after her error.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
FULL TIME! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:07 , Jamie Braidwood
Four goals now for Jill Roord, which puts her in a tie for second place in the golden boot standings.
The Netherlands will be without Daniëlle van de Donk in the quarter-finals, with the Lyon player in tears at the end after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament.
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FULL TIME! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:04 , Jamie Braidwood
The South Africa players are heading on a lap of honour around the stadium and it’s nothing short of what they deserve.
Daphne van Domselaar is awarded player of the match, which just goes to show how close South Africa were today.
FULL TIME! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
05:00 , Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands are through to the quarter-finals! They will go back to New Zealand and face Spain in the last eight.
What a brilliant effort from South Africa. They have left their mark on this World Cup, that’s for sure.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:58 , Jamie Braidwood
90+2 mins: Van Domselaar makes another save in added time, tipping a deflected effort around the post. Player of the match?
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:56 , Jamie Braidwood
90 mins: We’re into four minutes added on and the Netherlands are heading through to the quarter-finals for the second World Cup in a row.
What an effort it’s been from South Africa to make it this far. They’ve given the Netherlands a proper test in Syndey – and this match could have gone a very different direction on another day.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:48 , Jamie Braidwood
82 mins: Beerensteyn is played through again with a simple ball over the top, and this time she is onside. She squares to Roord, who blasts over from the edge of the box.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:43 , Jamie Braidwood
79 mins: NO GOAL! Brugts chips a ball through to Beerensteyn, who has been more dangerous in this second half, and the striker is free to bear down on goal. She rounds Swart and puts the ball in the net, but she was clearly offside. VAR confirms it.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:37 , Jamie Braidwood
72 mins: SAVE! What a stop from Daphne van Domselaar! South Africa could have been back in it as a cross created danger and then Linda Motlhalo fired a left foot shot towards the corner. But Van Domselaar gets down brilliantly to push it around the post.
GOAL! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:31 , Jamie Braidwood
A horrible mistake from South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart as the Netherlands double their lead!
Martens plays a simple ball down the sides to release Beerensteyn, who chips a shot towards goal with her left foot. It should be a simple save for the South Africa goalkeeper but the ball squirms through Swart’s hands and into the net.
That is a proper howler and it leaves South Africa with a long road back.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
04:31 , Jamie Braidwood
64 mins: The Netherlands are quitely smothering this game. Kgatlana has had far fewer opportunities to burst forward in this half… and is quickly closed down when she bursts inside the box.
Van de Donk is booked for a sliding challenge in midfield and will miss the quarter-final if the Netherlands make it through.
NO GOAL! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
04:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Nope! VAR rules it out after Martens went a touch early with her run! It looked like offside at first sight, and the replays confirm it.
Let off for South Africa.
GOAL! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 2-0 South Africa
04:17 , Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands double their lead, as the flag stays down! This will be checked as it was very close, but Martens was able to turn and shoot after Beerensteyn slipped the ball through!
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
04:17 , Jamie Braidwood
52 mins: South Africa haven’t been able to get going yet in the seocnd half. I imagine Andries Jonker won’t have been happy with the amount of chances they conceded in the first half, particulary through losing possession in midfield.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
04:12 , Jamie Braidwood
47 minutes: Netherlands threaten again from a corner as the second half restarts – this time as Beerensteyn heads over from a flick-on.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
04:08 , Jamie Braidwood
Back underway in Sydney! An upset is still very possible here, South Africa just need to take their chances in this second half!
HALF TIME! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:55 , Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands lead at the break… but I’m not sure how! South Africa have had all the best chances, with Kgatlana denied four times by Van Domselaar alone. The Dutch are ahead thanks to Roord’s close-range header, and it’s that moment of slack defending from a set-piece that is the difference!
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:51 , Jamie Braidwood
45+3 mins: SAVE! Kgatlana is denied again! The noise here is incredible when South Africa fly forward – this time as Linda Motlhalo chips a ball through to Kgatlana. She dives to her left, but Van Domselaar stands tall and makes the save with her feet at her near post.
That’s a fourth shot on target for Kgatlana this half alone. South Africa really couldn’t have asked for more!
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Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:48 , Jamie Braidwood
44 mins: CHANCE! That’s the moment South Africa were waiting for! South Africa quickly win the ball in midfield and find the pass through to Kgatlana down the left – she leaves Spitse behind her but Van Domselaar closes the angle well, smothering the shot and then beating Kgatlana to the spilled ball.
Kgatlana holds her head – that was her clearest sight of goal yet.
We’re into seven minutes added on.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:41 , Jamie Braidwood
38 mins: There’s a horrible moment as Martens dribbles forward, is fouled, and falls into Bambanani Mbane, who seems to go over her leg. A stretcher is being readied for the midfielder.
Tiisetso Makhubela replaces her as Mbane goes off on a stretcher. That looked like a serious injury.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:37 , Jamie Braidwood
34 mins: The Netherlands are terrified of Kgatlana! South Africa win the ball back in midfield and release the electric striker, who drives at Spitse in a flurry of step-overs. It creates a yard of space for the shot, which is straight at van Domselaar as the goalkeeper tips it around the front post .
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:30 , Jamie Braidwood
26 mins: SAVE! Quick-thinking and a quick throw from the Netherlands, as Danielle van de Donk turns in the box and is suddenly through on goal. Her shot is driven straight at Swart, where a shot curled towards the far post would have made it 2-0.
In a blow to South Africa, the lively right-sided forward Seoposenwe has been forced off and has been replaced by Wendy Shongwe.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:23 , Jamie Braidwood
20 mins:The Netherlands look very comfortable on the ball and are finding the spaces to play around South Africa. But South Africa are enjoying themselves o the counter-attack, especially when Kgatlana is able to run at Stefanie van der Gragt.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:17 , Jamie Braidwood
14 mins: The Netherlands corner came from Esmee Brugts attempting an outrageous shot from the corner of the box that almost curled into the top corner. The wing-back scored two identical goals against Vietnam and was so close to another, only for Kaylin Swart to tip over.
Roord is now on four goals for the tournament.
(Getty Images)
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:14 , Jamie Braidwood
13’ SAVE! South Africa may be behind but they look so threatening! Kgatlana is released down the sides of the Netherlands back three for the second time and the electric forward drives into the box. Her shot is flashed towards the far post and is tipped over by van Domselaar, but a corner isn’t given.
GOAL! Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa
03:11 , Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands open the scoring from a corner! Sherida Spitse’s corner found Martens at the front post – her header was towards the front post and had to be cleared off the line by Lebohang Ramalepe, but the clearance was hooked up and not out, leaving Jill Rood with a simple header from a yard out!
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 0-0 South Africa
03:09 , Jamie Braidwood
6 mins: First opportunity for South Africa as Jermaine Seoposenwe bursts forward from the right and feeds the dangerous Thembi Kgatlana. The South Africa captain takes a touch out from her feet but fires straight at Daphne van Domselaar.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 0-0 South Africa
03:06 , Jamie Braidwood
4 mins: The Netherlands immediately try and take control of possession with their expansive shape – Lineth Beerensteyn as gone straight back up front alongside Lieke Martens.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands 0-0 South Africa
03:02 , Jamie Braidwood
KICK-OFF! Underway in Sydney – with a healthy crowd for what is a midday start in Australia. Plenty of colourful replica shirts in the crowd, with the iconic organge of the Netherlands and the bright yellow of the Banyana Banyana.
(Indpendent)
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:57 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re almost ready to go in Sydney, after the First Nations welcome address.
Time for the anthems.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:49 , Jamie Braidwood
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker is confident his side can beat anyone at the Women’s World Cup after beating the USA to top spot in Group E, and avoiding Sweden in the last-16.
“From the very beginning of our preparations, we were quite confident that we can beat every opponent in this tournament,” he said after the 7-0 win against Vietnam. “Our strategy won’t change.
“Of course it helps when you qualify first in your group, when the United States is also in your group, and of course it helps when you win 7-0 and score wonderful goals… This team is capable of many things.
“A year ago we saw a lot of teams in Europe who were better than us, but we’ve managed to close the gap. Of course, we have to make it happen and win against these major countries, but it’s clear that we’re a lot closer to victory than a year ago.”
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Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:36 , Jamie Braidwood
South Africa believe their Women’s World Cup adventure is not done yet, with Desiree Ellis confident that Banyana Banyana can produce another upset.
“We’ve been underestimated so many times before,” Ellis said. “I think this group has shown that nothing can stand in their way, this group has shown when the chips are down that they can stand up. We know who we are playing, but they don’t know who they are playing.
“Because this group when the chips are down, they’ve just gotten better and better. And all I can say is that there’s going to be a match tomorrow.
“We are a team that know what our strengths and weaknesses are … we know what we want to do. I think the opponent knows what we want to do and sometimes they can’t stop it.
“We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game and we’ve got to be at the absolute best, because the Dutch have shown during the tournament that they’re a top side.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:28 , Jamie Braidwood
Keira Walsh has returned to full England training ahead of the Women’s World Cup last-16 match against Nigeria on Monday, just days after the Lionesses midfielder was stretchered off against Denmark.
It was confirmed that Walsh had not suffered an ACL injury after she was left on crutches following England’s second match of the World Cup, although the Champions League winner remained with the squad following scans.
Walsh missed England’s 6-1 win over China in the final match of Group C, with Sarina Wiegman changing her formation to a 3-5-2 in the midfielder’s absence, but her quick return to training has boosted hopes that the 26-year-old could play again at the tournament.
Wiegman will give an update as to whether Walsh will be available for selection at her press conference in Brisbane later on Sunday, with England facing Nigeria in the last-16 clash the following day.
Keira Walsh returns to England training in Women’s World Cup boost
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Juventus forward Lineth Beerensteyn returns for the Netherlands after missing the 7-0 win against Vietnam, coming in for Katja Snoeijs.
Kholosa Biyana replaces Robyn Moodaly in midfield for South Africa.
Both teams are unchanged elsewhere.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
02:07 , Jamie Braidwood
Team news is in!
Netherlands: van Domselaar, Spitse, van der Gragt, Janssen, Pelova, Roord, Groenen, van de Donk, Brugts, Beerensteyn, Martens.
Subs: Kop, Baijings, Casparij, Dijkstra, Egurrola, Jansen, Kaptein, Nouwen, Snoeijs, van Dongen, Wilms, Weimar.
South Africa: Swart, Ramalepe, Mbane, Matlou, Dhlamini, Biyana, Gamede, Magaia, Motlhalo, Seoposenwe, Kgatlana.
Subs: Dlamini, Cesane, Holweni, Kgadiete, Kgoale, Magama, Makhubela, Salgado, Shongwe, Moletsane.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:56 , Jamie Braidwood
Keira Walsh is back in training for the Lionesses today ahead of England’s clash with Nigeria in the last-16!
A huge boost for Sarina Wiegman, who will confirm whether Walsh is fit enough for selection later today at her press conference.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:48 , Jamie Braidwood
South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis after the historic 3-2 win against Italy:
“The girls are just freaking amazing. I mean I speak through every challenge they faced in the past. We know that no-one gave us a chance today but we knew what we were capable of and they fought like warriors out there.
“I think this is for everyone back home. You know, people getting up in the early hours of the morning who were disappointed when we should have won against Argentina. This is for everyone.”
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Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Hildah Magaia called South Africa’s victory over Italy to reach the last-16 of the Women’s World Cup for the first time as “life-changing.”
Magaia scored South Africa’s second goal and then provided the assist for Themba Kgatlana’s winner in the 3-2 win.
“They call me the breadwinner. So without the breadwinner, there’s no bread,” Magaia said. “I had to provide the bread for the nation.”
“This really means a lot. Especially knowing that we were so close to going home. It is an emotional one.”
(Getty Images)
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:41 , Jamie Braidwood
Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the Women’s World Cup as Japan beat Norway 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
Japan have been on a mission to bury the memory of their disappointing exit at the last-16 stage in 2019 and move on to play the winner of Sunday’s clash between holders the United States and Sweden.
Although they conceded their first goal of the tournament to Guro Reiten’s header, an own goal from Norway’s Ingrid Engen as well as second-half strikes from Risa Shimizu and Miyazawa got them across the line in front of a crowd of 33,042.
Miyazawa’s 81st-minute goal moved her out of a tie with Germany captain Alexandra Popp as the tournament’s leading goalscorer as well as matching Homare Sawa’s Japanese record for a World Cup set in 2011 when the Nadeshiko clinched the title.
Japan continue to shine as Spain orchestrate recovery to reach last-16
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:35 , Jamie Braidwood
The Netherlands’ back line will have to rely on trust and togetherness to stop lightning-fast striker Thembi Kgatlana when they face South Africa in their round of 16 game at the World Cup in Sydney on Sunday, according to defender Stefanie van der Gragt.
Kgatlana netted two of her team’s six goals including the last-gasp scorcher that dramatically dumped Italy out of the tournament.
“Well, it requires the same as always from me, we help each other at the back, we cover each other’s back and I think (Sunday) it will be very important to have each other’s back,” said Van der Gragt.
Coach Andries Jonker said his squad had stopped “very fast attackers” versus Portugal at the World Cup, and in friendlies against Costa Rica and Poland – all Dutch victories.
“It’s a matter of choosing positions, helping each other and having a keeper that pays attention,” Jonker said. “So far, we’ve had things under control. It’s not that we’re getting confused with this fast attacker from South Africa, but we have taken it into account and we’re preparing for that.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Netherlands vs South Africa
01:33 , Jamie Braidwood
The Women’s World Cup knockout stages continue as the Netherlands take on South Africa in Sydney.
South Africa were one of the stories of the group stage, as they stunned Italy with a dramatic 3-2 win to reach the last-16 for the first time. Led by star forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia, the dangerous Banyana Banyana will be targeting another upset against the 2019 finalists.
Netherlands topped Group E ahead of the United States and are an experienced side under Andries Jonker. The World Cup has been defined by shocks so far and the Netherlands will be wary of another, as they look to set up a quarter-final meeting with Spain, who thrashed the Switzerland on Saturday.
Japan are also through to the last-16 and will face the winner of the heavyweight clash between defending champions USA and Sweden. The USA are looking vulnerable after scraping through Group E, and the defending champions going out at this stage would leave the tournament wide open. Follow live updates from Netherlands vs South Africa as the World Cup last-16 continues.
