- Spain advance to the Nations League semi-finals after a 10:9 aggregate win over the Netherlands
- The second-leg in Valencia ended 3:3 after extra time, mirroring the 2:2 draw in Rotterdam
- Pedri scored the decisive penalty after Unai Simón saved from Donyell Malen in the shootout
Key Takeaways:
European champions Spain continue the defence of their Nations League title after narrowly overcoming the Netherlands in a wild quarter-final return leg played at “Mestalla”. The hosts eventually triumphed after a dramatic penalty shootout, following a 3:3 draw in extra time. Just like the first leg in Rotterdam, regular time finished in 2:2 draw, taking the overall score to 4:4. Each team scored one more goal in the additional 30 minutes, before a tense penalty shoot-out. There, the “Oranje” missed twice, while only Lamine Yamal failed to score for the hosts, allowing Pedri to convert the winning kick. With an overall result of 10:9, “La Roja” are now in the semi-finals, where they will face France. The final four tournament is scheduled for June in Germany, with the other semi-final featuring the hosts from Germany and Portugal.
8’—Spain 1-0 Netherlands
54’—Spain 1-1 Netherlands
67’—Spain 2-1 Netherlands
79’—Spain 2-2 Netherlands
103’—Spain 3-2 Netherlands
109’—Spain 3-3 NetherlandsThis. Game 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nJ9RRAHG18
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 23, 2025
In regular time, Spain took the lead early on. In the 8th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot, but the Dutch responded in the 54th with a spot kick of their own, converted by Memphis Depay. Oyarzabal struck again in the 67th to restore Spain’s lead, but once more the Dutch levelled, this time through Ian Maatsen in the 79th minute.
Extra time brought more twists. In the 103rd, Lamine Yamal gave the Spanish side the lead for a third time, but just six minutes later, Xavi Simons converted yet another penalty for 3:3.
The shootout began with both sides scoring their first three attempts — Van Dijk, Koopmeiners and Simons for the Netherlands, and Merino, Ferran Torres and Aleix Garcia for Spain. Then came back-to-back misses from Noa Lang and Lamine Yamal. Taylor and Baena both scored, but then Unai Simón saved from Donyell Malen, setting the stage for Pedri, who converted calmly to seal Spain’s place among the last four.