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It’s the run down the left side that looks to open the scoring for the Spaniards.
Captain Esther Gonzalez gets a perfect touch on the ball and pushes it past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and into the back of the net.
But referee Stéphanie Frappart has to back track on the original decision of a goal because VAR shows that both Spanish forwards are offside.
The Netherlands breathe a sigh of relief.
Spain 0, Netherlands 0 after 38 minutes
Jackie Groenen has hit the deck after Oihane Hernandeze came in a bit late for a tackle of the ball.
She’s back on her feet now, but she doesn’t look totally sound.
Hernandez has been slapped with a yellow card and Spain are on the attack.
Spain 0, Netherlands 0 after 35 minutes
Just like we’ve seen previously this tournament, Spain have attacked early and dominated the possession (50 per cent) for the opening 20 minutes.
Spain have scored 9 of their 13 goals this tournament during the first 45 minutes of their matches. They’ve peppered the Netherlands goal a few times, but the Dutch defence has weathered the storm (so far).
The Spaniards have had three good looks on goal.
Esther Gonzalez with the first chance - she cut through the Netherlands with ease and showed great technical ability in slicing through three defenders, but just missed the finishing touch.
Then, Alba Redondo had a shot but it sailed over the crossbar. Redondo went again (twice in the same play) but the ball hit the post due to terrific defending and pressure by the Netherlands’ goalkeeper, who has been Daphe van Domselaar has been terrific so far.
The Netherlands are being put under pressure but if they can get some attack going, they’ll be a real threat to Spain, who keep pressing.
The Dutch did have one corner - taken by Sherida Spitse - but it was cleared by the Spaniards fairly easily.
Spain 0, Netherlands 0, 20 minutes.
If it weren’t for Daphne van Domselarr, Spain could be celebrating their first quarter-final goal.
But they’re not, because the Dutch goalkeeper has just proven she’s worth her weight in gold.
Spain’s Alba Redondo had not one, but two chances on goal, but neither found the back of the net.
Van Domselaar threw herself to the right to save the first of Redondo’s shots, with the second one hitting the post and rebounding.
Spain 0, Netherlands 0 after 20 minutes
Spain’s Alba Redondo shoots at goal and hits the post.Credit: Reuters
We’re just six minutes into this first-half, but already Spain is on the front foot.
The Spaniards have had two shots on goal in those opening minutes, including one from Alba Redondo which just went above the crossbar.
Alba Redondo in action with the Netherlands’ Dominique Janssen.Credit: Reuters
Spain’s ability to cut across and find space up front should be sending early alarm bells to the Dutch, who have looked too complacent in the opening minutes.
If Spain are going to be this relentless up front, then the Netherlands need to be stronger in their back line to catch the Spaniards off-side.
Spain 0, Netherlands 0 after 6 minutes
Play is under way in Wellington with Spain in red and the Netherlands in their dark blue kit (we don’t get the high vis Oranje we all love).
The feeling is that this will be a low-scoring game, won on possession and in the midfield. The question is, will we see another penalty shootout today?
Spain 0, Netherlands 0 after 2 minutes
Netherlands players pose for a photo ahead of kick-off.Credit: Reuters
Fans enjoy the pre-game atmosphere in Wellington.Credit: Getty
Netherlands fans show their support in the stands.Credit: Getty
Dutch star midfielder Danielle van de Donk will be missing from today’s match after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament in the Netherlands 2-0 round of 16 win over South Africa.
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker said the side would feel her absence.
“Danielle is an extremely experienced player. She has over 140 caps, is a European champion, World Cup finalist,” Jonker told FIFA.com.
“Not playing in this match, with her specific qualities that are really useful to the team, is a real shame for her but also for the team.”
Van de Donk, who plays for Lyon, earned the card for a second-half foul on Kharabo Dhlamini.
Netherlands’ Danielle van de Donk, left, and South Africa’s Noko Matlou vie for the ball.Credit: AP
After booking their spot in the quarter-finals, Jonker said he was confident it wouldn’t be tournament over for van de Donk.
“We have come here with the conviction to beat everybody and that means all the teams, including South Africa and Spain,” Jonker said.
“So this doesn’t have to be the last game for Danielle. She can be back for the semi-final.
“It’s a puzzle we have to work out in the next few days, but we have several midfielders who can come in and play.”
The Netherlands have only conceded one goal this tournament, compared to the 11 they have scored themselves.
Four of those goals have come from Oranje superstar Jill Roord who will cause chaos in the midfield against Spain today.
Roord, a recent Manchester City signing, has become the Netherlands’ all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, and her passing accuracy and speed to the ball makes her potentially the most dangerous player on the pitch today (Alexia Putellas might have something to say about that).
As we said before, Spain head into this match as the obvious favourites, but the Oranje army have been a force this tournament.
In the group stages they drew 1-1 with team USA and beat Portugal and Vietnam to top their group, before going on to defeat South Africa in a textbook 2-0 win in the round of 16.
We could be in for an upset today.
Jill Roord has scored four of the Netherlands’ goals this tournament.Credit: Getty Images
Spain, ranked sixth in the world, are favourites to progress to the semi-finals and claim the win over the Netherlands, ranked ninth. They were ruthless against Switzerland (bar one own goal, whoops) taking them apart 5-1.
However, the Dutch shouldn’t be discounted. They have been unbeaten so far this tournament (while Spain went down to Japan in the group stage 4-0) and are 2019 World Cup finalists, so they know how to go deep.