UEFA Women’s Nations League
Netherlands 4-0 Scotland
Friday, 27 October 2023
Gofferstadion, Nijmegen

Scorers:
Netherlands 4 (van de Donk 12’, Brugts 31’, Beerensteyn 52’ 71’)

Scotland 0

Team news

Pedro Martinez Losa named two changes to the team that faced Belgium in September. Amy Rodgers and Kirsty Maclean both made their first starts for the senior team. Sam Kerr and Caroline Weir dropped out due to injury.

As it happened…

The hosts got the game underway in front of a sell-out crowd in Nijmegen. It was the Netherlands who had the first chance of the game with Roord advancing down the right, Emslie cleared the danger. It didn’t take them long to convert the early possession into a goal as van de Donk made it 1-0 on 12 minutes from close range.

Scotland looked to respond with urgency, Maclean unable to get a clean shot from a corner. Grimshaw with a hopeful run on 16 minutes, advancing to the byline but the cutback was cleared. Scotland calmed proceedings for a spell with more possession but the Dutch continued to look very dangerous on the counter-attack.

On 23 minutes, the referee waved play on as Emslie looked to be brought down on the edge of the box, the winger asked some serious questions of the Dutch defence.

Hanson forced van Domselaar into a fingertip save on the half hour mark with an absolute rocket from 20 yards, but the Dutch countered quickly with their second shot of the game which resulted in their second goal – courtesy of Brugts on 31 minutes.

Gibson prevented the hosts from making it 3-0 with a tremendous save to stop a long-range effort from Spitse on 36 minutes. The first half ended at 2-0 with Scotland failing to make the most of the chances created in the opening 45 minutes.

Pedro Martinez Losa made two changes at half-time, Maclean and Emslie made way for Brown and Evans who made her 100th international appearance. The Netherlands added a third goal after a route one ball latched on to by Beerensteyn who chipped Gibson on 52 minutes.

McLauchlan had two shots in quick succession around the hour mark, the first trundling past the post and the second held by the Dutch stopper. Evans delivered a delightful free-kick into the area on 68 minutes, Howard’s resulting header turned away for a corner.

It was 4-0 to the hosts with twenty minutes to go, Beerensteyn with her second of the night. Grimshaw and Thomas both had opportunities around 78 minutes but neither could get the ball on target.

It was a triple change for Scotland on 80 minutes, Davidson, Napier and Clark on for Thomas, McLauchlan and Rodgers. 

Lee Gibson made a strong save to deny Beerensteyn her hat-trick shortly before the full-time whistle, as it ended in favour of the hosts in Nijmegen.

Next up

Scotland will return to Hampden next Tuesday, 31 October to face the Netherlands in the second match in this UEFA Women’s Nations League double header. Tickets for that game are available here.

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, McLauchlan (Napier 80’), Howard, Corsie, Docherty, Grimshaw, Rodgers (Clark 80’), Maclean (Evans 46’), Emslie (Brown 46’), Hanson, Thomas (Davidson 80’)

Unused subs: Fife, MacIver, Cornet, Smith, Howat, Gallacher

Netherlands: van Domselaar, Dijkstra, Roord, Beerensteyn, Spitse, van de Donk, Martens, Jansen, Groenen, Casparij, Brugts

Subs: Weimar, Lorsheyd, Wilms, Olislagers, van Dongen, Miedema, Baijings, Snoeijs, Pelova, Kaptein, Auee, Egurrola