The Netherlands came from trailing at the break to secure a hard-fought win over Scotland on matchday two of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
The Dutch arrived at Hampden Park as favourites against a young and inexperienced Scotland side. However, the hosts took the lead through recent debutant Emma Lawton in the 34th minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesAndries Jonkers’ side started the second half with a changed formation. They equalized 10 minutes after the restart from Lineth Beerensteyn’s solo run. Aston Villa’s Chasity Grant scored a tap-in to open her national account ten minutes later, completing the turnaround.
As it happened
The first half saw wave after wave of attacks on the Scottish half. Jill Roord, Vivianne Miedema, Lineth Beerensteyn and Chasity Grant all created chances but none could capitalise. Scotland took the lead against the run of play late in the half. Celtic full-back Emma Lawton, who only made her Scotland debut on Friday, picked up on Grant’s poor clearance from a corner to send it home.
Soon after, Lauren Davidson teed up Kirsty Hanson for a chance to make it two, but she shot straight at Daphne van Domselaar. The Dutch goalkeeper had a quiet night until these two chances from the Scots.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the break, the Dutch changed formation by pushing a midfielder up to form a front three – this quickly worked in their favour. Lineth Beerensteyn made an impressive solo run through four Scottish players and bagged the equalizer in the 54th minute.
The turnaround was swift after that; the visitors continued to create chances and their pressure paid off with the winner ten minutes later. Miedema assisted Grant’s tap-in, her first goal for her country in 12 senior caps.
Scotland are bottom of the group, with two losses out of two. The Netherlands trail Germany by two on goal difference at the top.
Next for Scotland is a clash with Germany on 4th April, while the Netherlands play Austria on the same date.
The lineups
SCO: Gibson; McLauchlan, Howard, Clark, Lawton; Eddie, Weir, Maclean; Davidson, Adams, Hanson
NED: Van Domselaar; Casparij, Spitse, Janssen; Brugts, Kaptein, Groenen, Roord, Grant; Miedema, Beerensteyn
