Women's World Cup: Netherlands halt South Africa's dream run, set up quarter-final with Spain
The Netherlands set up a heavyweight Women's World Cup quarter-final with Spain after ending South Africa's historic run with a 2-0 victory on Sunday.
The 2019 runners-up were efficient rather than scintillating in front of 40,000 in Sydney to ensure they would not become the latest victim of a shock at the tournament.
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Jill Roord scored after nine minutes to put the Dutch on their way against a team ranked 45 places below them and featuring in the knockout rounds for the first time.
South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then made a mess of an innocuous Lineth Beerensteyn shot midway through the second half to gift the Dutch a second.
The African champions will be kicking themselves after having numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, almost all to their livewire captain Thembi Kgatlana.
The Netherlands will meet Spain on Friday in the last eight.
In an open start, the 54th-ranked South Africans had the first chance on six minutes but Kgatlana fired straight at goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar — it was to become a theme.
The Dutch took the lead three minutes later, midfielder Roord nodding in from close range following a corner for her fourth goal of the tournament.
The striker Kgatlana, who scored the winner over Italy that gave South Africa their first win ever at the World Cup, was a constant threat with her pace.
Three more times in the first half the US-based Kgatlana could have scored.
Neutrals at Sydney Football Stadium got behind her team and there was a buzz of anticipation each time she ran with the ball.
On 12 minutes she sprinted away from a Dutch defence that was treading water and fizzed her effort
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