Euro champions Netherlands netted five goals without reply in Northern Ireland, to add to their earlier 7-0 home victory in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying Group 3.
A crowd of 954 in Portadown saw claims for an early penalty off a Julie Nelson shot waved away before Dutch striker Lieke Martens hit the post with a crisp drive and Jacqueline Burns saved well from Martens’ follow-up header.
The Dutch eventually made the breakthrough in the 36th minute when Lineth Beerensteyn spun clear of her markers on the edge of the area and slammed the ball low past Burns into the bottom corner.
On 60 minutes the European champions scored their second when Shanice van de Sanden broke free down the right and squared for Danielle van de Donk to knock the ball home from close range.
Four minutes later van de Sanden made it 3-0 when she evaded a couple of markers inside the area and smashed the ball into the corner of the net.
The Dutch were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute when Beerensteyn was upended in the area by Rachel Newborough and Sherida Spitse converted from the spot.
As the 90-minute mark approached the visitors grabbed their fifth and final goal of the game when lively midfielder Jackie Groenen fired the ball home from six yards.
Northern Ireland: Jacqueline Burns, Rachel Newborough, Laura Rafferty, Julie Nelson, Demi Vance, Marissa Callaghan (captain), Sarah McFadden, Rachel Furness, Kirsty McGuinness, Billie Simpson, Alison Smyth. Substitutes: (used) Caragh Milligan, Ciara Sherwood, Megan Bell; (not used) Lauren Perry, Jessica Foy, Emma McMaster, Freya Holdaway
Netherlands: Sari van Veenendaal (captain), Anouk Dekker, Shanice van de Sanden, Sherida Spitse, Danielle van de Donk, Lieke Martens, Renate Jansen, Jackie Groenen, Siri Worm, Dominique Janssen, Lineth Beerensteyn. Substitutes: (used) Desiree van Lunteren, Ellen Jansen: (not used) Jennifer Vreugdenhil, Stefanie van der Gragt, Kelly Zeeman, Jill Roord, Merel van Dongen.
Source: irishfa.com
