International Friendly
Netherlands 2-1 Scotland
Friday, 2 September
MAC3PARK Stadion, Zwolle

Scorers

Netherlands: Miedema (10), Van Dooren (88)

Scotland: Emslie (12)

Scotland came within two minutes of a deserved draw in the Netherlands after a gutsy performance in this high-intensity friendly.

The slick hosts opened the scoring through the prolific Vivianne Miedema, only for Claire Emslie to haul the Scots level within a couple of minutes.

With the clock running down, a lucky bounce off the crossbar went the way of the Dutch - who capitalised through substitute Kayleigh van Dooren. 

Team News

In the build-up, Pedro Martinez Losa told his squad that they should all be ready to contribute to this friendly international - keen to utilise as many within the group as he could before the final World Cup qualifier in the Faroe Islands.

Captain Rachel Corsie sat out the first day of training as a precaution and, though she took part in every subsequent session, she was listed as a substitute - with Jen Beattie handed the armband in her place.

As It Happened

The hosts were in action for the first time since their summer Euros campaign, where they bowed out at the quarter-final stage, and welcomed a new manager in Andries Jonkers.

Obviously keen to impress their new coach, the Dutch started on the front foot and Kelly Clark gad to be alert to block from Jill Roord early on and concede a corner.

The Netherlands earned the breakthrough on 10 minutes. 

Danielle van de Donk did well to create space for Vivianne Miedema, who made no mistake from just inside the 18-yard box. Leaving Scots goalkeeper Lee Gibson with no chance.

Away from home, in front of a hyped-up crowd and up against top-quality opposition, Scotland would have been forgiven for retreating and trying to patiently play their way back into the game. Instead, they were level inside two minutes of the opener.

A measured pass over the top from Clark was seized upon by Claire Emslie. Taking the ball in her stride and displaying a great turn of pace, she slotted into the far corner with considerable composure. 

Scotland had to withstand a fair bit of pressure as the Dutch sought to regain the advantage, with Van de Donk cursing her luck as she dragged wide when through one-on-one.

Miedema and Van de Donk were heavily involved again on 27 minutes, as the former saw her header rebound off the bar, while the latter scuffed the rebound. 

Scotland were forced into an unplanned changed after 36 minutes, as Chloe Arthur picked up a knock and was replaced by Fiona Brown - back in the international fold after an injury-disrupted year.

The Netherlands kept pushing but the resolute visitors held firm until a well-earned breather at half-time. 

Martinez Losa shuffled the pack at half-time, introducing Corsie and the returning Emma Mitchell for Beattie and Clark respectively. 

Gibson was at her best on the hour mark to deny Miedema, who was clean through on goal and would have reasonably expected to score were it not for the heroics of the Glasgow City shot-stopper.

Scotland made another two changes shortly afterwards, With Abi Harrison and Christie Murray introduced for Lana Clelland and Martha Thomas - who had both done a lot of unselfish pressing and running up front. 

On 73 minutes, Emslie so nearly notched her second - throwing herself at a bouncing ball on the box, only to be thwarted by keeper Daphne van Domselaar. 

The Scots grew into the game and asked questions of the home side, with Harrison's hold-up play helping to draw her team-mates up the park.

With three minutes to go, Caroline Weir was replaced by Lucy Graham and seconds later the Dutch scored their sucker-punch winner.

Gibson could do nothing as the ball bounced off the crossbar and fell fortunately to the feet of Kayleigh van Dooren, who stabbed home from close range.

It was rough on a team who left everything on the pitch and deserved more, but who also got the perfect warm-up for the last remaining World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. 

Teams

Netherlands: Van Domselaar, Van Der Gragt (Brugts 66), Wilms, Roord (Nouwen 66), Spitse, Miedema (Olislagers 66), Van de Donk (Egurrola 66), Jansen, Groenen (Pelova 66), Casparij (Kalma 66), Janssen.
Unused substitutes: Kop, Lorsheijd, Van Dooren, Dijkstra, Olislagers.
Scotland: Gibson, Docherty, Beattie (Corsie 46), Weir (Graham 87), Arthur (Brown 36), Howard, Emslie, Clelland (Harrison 63), Thomas (Murray 63), Cuthbert, K. Clark (Mitchell 46). 
Unused substitutes: Cumings, Fife, J. Clark, Davidson, McLauchlan.

Look The Part

Scotland were wearing their brand new home kit at MAC3PARK in Zwolle, which is available to pre-order now ahead of the release on Thursday, 15 September.

Click here for all your need-to-know details.