London, July 17 (BNA) – Defending champions Netherlands needed a late boost to beat Switzerland 4-1 and secure their place in the European Championship quarter-finals on Sunday, while Sweden qualified easily with a 5-0 win over Portugal.
Still missing star Vivian Miedema, who tested positive for the Corona virus, the Dutch team tied 1-1 until the 84th minute when Romy Lochter sent a high header over attacking goalkeeper Gael Talmann, who made a series of great saves to that point.
Victoria Belova scored 3-1 in the 89th minute – but only after a lengthy VAR offside test – and Leuchter finished second and fourth in overtime, according to the Associated Press.
The Dutch performance, who needed a draw to qualify, was less convincing than the eventual three-goal margin suggested. It wasn’t enough to secure first place in Group C – which went to Sweden – so the Netherlands must face France in the quarter-finals.
For most of the match, it was like repeating the narrow 3-2 win over Portugal on Wednesday, when the Dutch struggled to control a game they were the favorites to win.
After a mostly negative first half of a video review disallowing a penalty for the Netherlands, the Dutch side took the lead in the 49th minute when Swiss midfielder Anna Maria Kronogorsevic tried to head the ball off the goal line but instead turned it into a net. .
The Swiss response was almost immediate, as Geraldine Rutler scored a pass from Ramona Bachmann.
The Swiss could have gone through with a surprise win and almost took the lead shortly after Reutler’s goal, but Komba Su fired one shot at the goalkeeper and then a second against the post.
Sweden qualified at the top of the group after only two goals before the end of the first half and knocked Portugal out of the fight.
Philippa Engeldahl opened the scoring in the 21st minute and made it 2-0 in the 45th minute before scoring the third goal on his own when the ball deflected from Carol Costa’s head at a corner.
Captain Kosovari Aslani scored a penalty kick in the 54th minute, and Stena Blacksteinius strengthened Sweden’s lead in stoppage time.
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