United States Tops the Netherlands in PKs to Advance to Semifinals

YOKOHAMA, Japan (July 30, 2021) - The United States Women’s National Team traveled to Yokohama Stadium to take on the Netherlands Friday morning. It was win or go home for the two teams in the quarterfinal match of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After being knotted 2-2 at the end of regulation and extra time, the two sides went to penalty kicks. The United States came out on top, winning the PKs 4-2 and etching a spot in the semifinals.

The United States started the game off strong with two early chances from Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan. Despite offsides taking that chance away and a great save from Netherland’s goalkeeper, Sari van Veenendaal, the United States was able to find the back of the net twice after that. 

Before that happened, the Netherlands struck first in the 18th minute when Vivianne Miedema showed some craftiness in her play to turn the U.S. defense and find the bottom right corner past the United States goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher. This put the Netherlands up for 10 minutes before the United States caught fire.

In the 28th minute, Lynn Williams used her speed down the right flank to cross a beautifully driven cross to a diving Sam Mewis who got her head on it to tap it in for the United States. Just three minutes later in the 31st minute, Williams answered the call again off a corner that redirected to her feet near the penalty marker and slipped the ball into the bottom right corner to give the United States a 2-1 lead at the half. 

The United States momentum at the end of the first half quickly shifted to the Netherlands to start the second half. Miedema found the back of the net for the second time of the game in the 57th minute when she dribbled past two U.S. defenders to find an opening to get the shot off into the bottom left corner that was tipped by United States goalkeeper, Naeher, but got past her and equalized the game to 2-2.

The Netherlands nearly took the lead in the 80th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick in the box from a clear foul on the United States, but Naeher came up huge with a diving stop to keep the game level at 2-2. This save seemed to be game saving for the United States as the second half concluded in a draw and caused the game to go into extra time to decide a winner. 

The Netherlands came out on the front foot to start the overtime period with a near chance from a Lieke Martens header that was tipped off the top bar and in, but it was deemed offside. 

The United States had two chances of their own where Morgan and Press found the back of the net, but the offsides flag took those away. Neither team could find the game-winner at the end of overtime, so penalty kicks would decide the game. 

The penalty kicks belonged to the United States, with Naeher making two big saves to keep the Netherlands 2 out of 4 and the United States went 4 out of 4 from Rose Lavelle, Christen Press, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe to send the United States onto the semifinals. 

The United States will next take on Canada in the semifinals on Monday, August 2nd at 3 a.m. CT in Kashima, Japan.

YOKOHAMA, Japan (July 30, 2021) - The United States Women’s National Team traveled to Yokohama Stadium to take on the Netherlands Friday morning. It was win or go home for the two teams in the quarterfinal match of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After being knotted 2-2 at the end of regulation and extra time, the two sides went to penalty kicks. The United States came out on top, winning the PKs 4-2 and etching a spot in the semifinals.

The United States started the game off strong with two early chances from Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan. Despite offsides taking that chance away and a great save from Netherland’s goalkeeper, Sari van Veenendaal, the United States was able to find the back of the net twice after that. 

Before that happened, the Netherlands struck first in the 18th minute when Vivianne Miedema showed some craftiness in her play to turn the U.S. defense and find the bottom right corner past the United States goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher. This put the Netherlands up for 10 minutes before the United States caught fire.

In the 28th minute, Lynn Williams used her speed down the right flank to cross a beautifully driven cross to a diving Sam Mewis who got her head on it to tap it in for the United States. Just three minutes later in the 31st minute, Williams answered the call again off a corner that redirected to her feet near the penalty marker and slipped the ball into the bottom right corner to give the United States a 2-1 lead at the half. 

The United States momentum at the end of the first half quickly shifted to the Netherlands to start the second half. Miedema found the back of the net for the second time of the game in the 57th minute when she dribbled past two U.S. defenders to find an opening to get the shot off into the bottom left corner that was tipped by United States goalkeeper, Naeher, but got past her and equalized the game to 2-2.

The Netherlands nearly took the lead in the 80th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick in the box from a clear foul on the United States, but Naeher came up huge with a diving stop to keep the game level at 2-2. This save seemed to be game saving for the United States as the second half concluded in a draw and caused the game to go into extra time to decide a winner. 

The Netherlands came out on the front foot to start the overtime period with a near chance from a Lieke Martens header that was tipped off the top bar and in, but it was deemed offside. 

The United States had two chances of their own where Morgan and Press found the back of the net, but the offsides flag took those away. Neither team could find the game-winner at the end of overtime, so penalty kicks would decide the game. 

The penalty kicks belonged to the United States, with Naeher making two big saves to keep the Netherlands 2 out of 4 and the United States went 4 out of 4 from Rose Lavelle, Christen Press, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe to send the United States onto the semifinals. 

The United States will next take on Canada in the semifinals on Monday, August 2nd at 3 a.m. CT in Kashima, Japan.