Lynn Wilms and Lineth Beerensteyn lead the Oranje Leeuwinnen to the final

In the bustling stadium of Tilburg, the supporters of the Orange Lionesses saw a calm evening, in which the focus was on securing a place in the final play‑offs. Head coach Arjan Veurink had a simple mission: maintain the intensity of the earlier 0‑8‑victory and drop the opponent, Hungary, without difficulty.

Goals and player performances

The match started with a cross from Daniëlle van de Donk that in the eighth minute allowed Esmee Brugts to head the ball and deliver the opening goal. Lineth Beerensteyn doubled the lead just before half‑time with a header, after which Damaris Egurrola, who later scored a third goal, put the score at three‑nil. Lynn Wilms, who was in the starting lineup, did not make a scoring contribution, but her presence was praised by Veurink.

Veurink's analysis and next steps

After the break, Veurink showed a slight improvement; Orange created more chances, but sloppy finishing kept the tally at three goals. He emphasized that, despite the fine result, there is a lot of work to be done, especially in creativity and finishing. The next step is a two‑leg tie against Slovenia, with the exact dates and venues to be announced on Wednesday.

Hungary (HON) could not score any goal and remained under pressure throughout the match. The defence, led by the centre‑back of the London City Lionesses, kept the Hungarian attacks at bay, while goalkeeper Brzycky repeatedly tipped the ball over the crossbar.

The victory means that the Orange Lionesses have smoothly reached the final of the play‑offs. Slovenia, a team of comparable level, forms the next opponent. Veurink indicated that the exact dates and venues of the matches against Slovenia will be announced on Wednesday, with an away game at the end of November and a home leg at the beginning of November.

With this qualification, the Netherlands moves a step closer to a spot at the World Cup in Brazil. If the Orange Lionesses win the second leg, they will secure participation in the World Championship next summer.