Merel van Dongen and the Netherlands National Team Advance to the FIFA World Cup Final for the First Time Ever
7/3/2019 6:31:00 PM | Soccer
The Dutch conquered Sweden 1-0 in extra time in the semifinals
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama soccer standout Merel van Dongen (2012-14) and the Netherlands National Team scored in extra time to push past Sweden for a 1-0 victory Wednesday at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu, France. With the victory, van Dongen and the Dutch continue their history-making run into the finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The UA alumna made her fourth consecutive start and played the entire semifinals match to log her sixth match and 409th minute in the tournament. Van Dongen will be the first Alabama soccer player in program history to compete in a World Cup final.
Neither side managed to find a way to light up the scoreboard through 90 minutes of regulation, but it took until extra time for the decisive goal to register. Jackie Groenen's strike from 20-yards out into the far lower corner came in the 99th minute. The Dutch managed the remaining 20 minutes with composure and welcomed their first-ever World Cup final.
Wednesday's game marked the first Women's World Cup semifinal match to be settled in extra time. Groenen's winning goal was the Netherlands' first from outside the box in the Women's World Cup since their first-ever goal in the competition, with each of their last 12 being scored inside the box.
The Netherlands will try to steal the crown from defending FIFA Women's World Cup Champions, the United States, on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT in Stade de Lyon.
The Americans have beaten the Dutch six consecutive times by a 22-2 count, but they haven't clashed since 2016 and in that space, the Netherlands won the 2017 European Championship.
Finals Schedule
Sunday, July 7
United States vs. Netherlands, 10 a.m. CT, Fox
For all the latest information on the team follow @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter, Instangram and Facebook. General Alabama Athletics news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
