The Netherlands’ Anouk Dekker and Lineth Beerensteyn breached Canada’s normally rock-solid defence with second-half goals to secure a 2-1 win that earned the Dutch top spot in Group E at the women’s World Cup on Thursday.
Dekker and Beerensteyn scored either side of Christine Sinclair’s goal to put the Netherlands on a maximum nine points with Canada, who had not conceded in their previous two games, second on six.
The Oranje dominated but failed to break the deadlock in a tightly-contested first half against a side who had conceded only one goal in their last 10 matches.
But Dekker rose higher than everyone to head home an inswinging free kick in the 54th minute.
Canada reacted swiftly through Sinclair, who equalised with a cool finish from Ashley Lawrence’s pass on the hour.
The Dutch, however, had more firepower and it told 15 minutes from time as substitute Beerensteyn latched on to Desiree van Lunteren’s cross with her first touch to score the tournament’s 100th goal.
Cameroon qualified for the women’s World Cup last 16 when Ajara Nchout earned them a 2-1 win over New Zealand with the last kick of their Group E match on Thursday.
Chilean players are devastated after missing knockout stage despite winning against Thailand 2-0 at Roazhon Park, Rennes on Thursday. Photo: Collected
Nchout, whose opener was cancelled out by Aurelle Awona’s own goal 10 minutes from time, found the back of the net five minutes into stoppage time to put the African side on three points.
Nchout opened the scoring 12 minutes into the second half, netting with a left-foot shot after dribbling past Abby Erceg.
All their efforts appeared to have counted for nothing when Awona deflected Katie Bowen’s cross into her own net, the scoreline then meaning both teams were eliminated.
New Zealand pushed hard as Cameroon looked increasingly shaky, but Nchout kept her cool deep into stoppage-time, beating Erin Nayler with a right-foot effort from inside the area.
Chile were eliminated from the women’s World Cup after missing a late penalty that would have sent them through in a 2-0 win over Thailand on Thursday.
Francisca Lara’s 86th-minute spot kick-rattled the bar as Chile finished third in Group F but short by one goal of advancing into the knockout stage.
Yanara Aedo’s strike bounced off the post and into the feet of keeper Waraporn Boosing as Chile scored their first women’s World Cup goal, Maria Jose Urrutia doubling the lead in the second half but the South Americans came up just short.
Holders the United States beat Sweden 2-0 on Thursday to maintain their perfect women’s World Cup record and top Group F, setting up a last-16 clash with Spain.
Lindsey Horan netted the tournament’s fastest goal after three minutes and Jonna Andersson scored an own goal as the U.S. beat the record for most goals (18) in the women’s World Cup group stage.
