{"id":8138,"date":"2019-06-29T12:03:01","date_gmt":"2019-06-29T16:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=8138"},"modified":"2019-06-30T10:04:38","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T14:04:38","slug":"netherland-reach-the-womens-world-cups-final-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=8138","title":{"rendered":"Netherland Reach The Women’s World Cup’s Final Four"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Vivianne Miedema scores her side’s first goal (AP Photo\/Francois Mori)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>Holland reached the Women\u2019s World Cup semi-finals for the first time after second-half headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie Van Der Gragt earned a 2-0 win over Italy.<\/p>\n

Prolific Arsenal striker Miedema glanced home Sherida Spitse\u2019s free-kick to break the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining in the sweltering heat of Valenciennes.<\/p>\n

Defender Van Der Gragt secured a deserved Dutch success 10 minutes later, nodding home another Spitse set-piece.<\/p>\n

Italy were second best at Stade du Hainaut and twice saved by the woodwork while the game remained goalless.<\/p>\n

In the build-up to the match, Holland\u2019s request to push back the afternoon kick-off because of the heatwave in France was turned down by tournament organizers.<\/p>\n

The searing temperatures resulted in scheduled drink breaks and contributed to a drab, uneventful opening 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s Valentina Bergamaschi directed an early volley straight at Dutch goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal following Barbara Bonansea\u2019s flick-on, and later scuffed wide when well placed.<\/p>\n

At the other end, Miedema\u2019s effort from distance and Spitse\u2019s tame free-kick were both comfortably claimed by Laura Giuliani.<\/p>\n

Italy, playing their first World Cup quarter-final since 1991, were the lowest-ranked team left in the tournament and considered by many as this year\u2019s surprise package.<\/p>\n

They began to be pressed back in their own half in the second period as the Euro 2017 winners took control of the tie.<\/p>\n

Dutch forward Lieke Martens, who scored the last-minute penalty to beat Japan in the last 16 and shrugged off a toe injury to start, twice had sights of goal but lacked the power to beat Giuliani.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s Danielle Van De Donk was unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 58th minute with a curling effort from the edge of the box which bounced back off the crossbar following a partially-cleared corner.<\/p>\n

Italy continued to ride their luck and were once again reliant on the frame of the goal when midfielder Spitse\u2019s powerful free-kick from distance glanced the base of the left post.<\/p>\n

However, they could not hold out for much longer and Sarina Wiegman\u2019s side duly went ahead with 70 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n

Spitse delivered an inviting, in-swinging set-piece from wide on the left, allowing Holland\u2019s record scorer Miedema to flick home her 61st goal for her country and third of the competition.<\/p>\n

Italy suffered a further blow 10 minutes later when Barcelona player Van Der Gragt climbed high at the back post to power home Spitse\u2019s floated free-kick from the right.<\/p>\n

Substitute Daniela Sabatino had a chance to set up a tense finish but her close-range effort was repelled by Van Veenendaal as Italy\u2019s hopes of a comeback ended.<\/p>\n

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