Osamagbe Imadiyi
Spain defeated the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties to advance to the final four following an exciting 3-3 quarterfinal second leg draw (5-5 on aggregate) on Sunday. The Netherlands rallied three times to force the shootout, but Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona’s Pedri slotted home to end an intense match. Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, but Memphis Depay equalized from the penalty spot. Before Ian Maatsen hammered home to force extra time, Oyarzabal grabbed Spain’s second goal.
Spain took the lead thanks to a spectacular goal from Barcelona star Yamal, who also missed a penalty in the shootout, but Xavi Simons scored another penalty kick to force penalties. Spain took the lead early on when Oyarzabal, after being clumsily brought down by Jan Paul van Hecke, smashed the penalty past Bart Verbruggen’s dive and into the bottom right corner. After 54 minutes, Depay, making his 100th Oranje appearance, threw himself to the ground after a brawl with Robin Le Normand, giving Koeman’s team a penalty of their own.
Spain’s dynamic wingers contributed to their lead being restored with a counterattack that was incredibly sharp. Williams slipped the ball to Oyarzabal after Yamal let him drive into the box. The Spaniard headed home the rebound after Verbruggen saved his attempted dink. The Netherlands reacted quickly, taking advantage of Olmo’s mistake of giving up the ball inside his own zone.
Maatsen was the recipient of a deft pass from substitute Simons on the left, and the Aston Villa defender brilliantly fired into the top corner to force extra time. Yamal was able to control the ball while on the run, beat Maatsen, and execute a beautiful finish after Huijsen lofted it into his path. Simons won and converted a penalty in the 109th minute as the Dutch fought back for the third time. Both teams scored their first three penalties with excellent accuracy, but Lang of the Netherlands struck the crossbar and Verbruggen stopped a weak Yamal attempt. Unai Simon swooped to his left to save Malen in sudden death, and Pedri coolly advanced Spain to the semifinals.
