Esmee Brugts netted two long-range stunners as the Netherlands rediscovered their scoring touch in a crushing 7-0 win over Vietnam on Tuesday, reaching the Women’s World Cup knockouts in style and locking up top spot in Group E on goal difference.
The Dutch had only scored once in each of their two previous games but, knowing goal difference could decide the group winner, were 4-0 up inside 25 minutes, with Brugts’ curled effort the pick of the bunch.
The Netherlands, who were expected to finish behind the United States in the group, will travel to Sydney for their last 16 tie on Sunday and are likely to face Italy, who sit in second place behind Sweden in Group G.
Her second goal in the 57th minute was a carbon copy of the first and put the Netherlands 6-0 ahead before Jill Roord also bagged her second of the night to wrap up the emphatic win, the biggest of the tournament so far.
It was Lieke Martins opened the scoring for Andries Jonker’s side after eight minutes, before Katja Snoeijs doubled their lead three minutes later. Brugts and Roord added two more for Holland within the next 12 minutes, and they went in at the break 5-0 to the good when Danielle van de Donk tapped into an empty net on the stroke of half time.
Brugts and Roord then each went on to score their second of the game after the interval, capping a huge 7-0 victory. And following Portugal’s 0-0 draw with the United States, it means the Netherlands head into the knockout stages as winners of Group E.
