Lieke Martens stated goodbye to the Dutch public in opposition to Finland. – Photograph: KNVB Media
The Netherlands gained the essential European Championship qualifying match in opposition to Finland 1-0. Lineth Beerensteyn shot the Dutch staff to the highest place within the group within the second half. However nobody talked about that afterwards at Het Kasteel in Rotterdam. Lieke Martens performed her final dwelling sport in Oranje underneath the watchful eye of household and buddies. Her substitution in damage time introduced again all the nice reminiscences of a fantastic participant. That was not with out feelings, each for Martens and her viewers.
Netherlands – Finland was like a movie in the very best traditions of Hollywood. Thrilling as a result of three crucial factors might be earned for a European Championship ticket. It was recognized prematurely that the opponents Norway and Italy had drawn; 0-0. In the event that they win, the Netherlands may take the lead within the group. However beneath there was additionally an emotional layer. Lieke Martens, one of many idols who had woke up Dutch girls’s soccer on the 2017 European Championship, would play a house match for the Dutch staff for the final time.
— Lieke Martens retains the ball stylishly underneath management.
Successful is #1
Along with her household within the stands, Martens’ identify was greeted with additional cheers. And the ‘Lieke, Lieke’ commonly rolled from the stands on the atmospheric Citadel in Rotterdam. When she began within the Eredivisie Girls at sc Heerenveen, Martens solely performed for her dad and mom, so to talk. She may solely dream that she would shine in soccer temples similar to Nou Camp and Wembley. However that dream got here true, with the European title in 2017 as absolutely the spotlight. Martens captivated the whole nation together with her trendy dribbling, her targets (62 for the Dutch staff), her open-mindedness. Ladies now not needed to look to males for an idol. They too may dream of turning into the very best participant on this planet.
However there was no room for all these reminiscences simply but, as Martens advised nationwide coach Andries Jonker prematurely. ‘One is profitable, then nothing for a very long time after which I come.’ “Solely by profitable can we give Lieke a pleasant farewell,” the nationwide coach added. And the place one goes, the brand new technology inexorably arrives. Jonker selected debutant Danielle de Jong (21) from FC Twente in objective as a result of Daphne van Domselaar has not but recovered sufficiently from her hip damage.
— Danielle de Jong proved to be a beacon of calm on her debut in objective.
Class
Martens’ farewell appeared to encourage the gamers. The Dutch staff obtained out of the beginning blocks with an opportunity for Van de Donk, who may solely get at goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela within the first minute, however laid it extensive as an alternative of going for his personal success. Brugts tried to shock Korpela shortly afterwards with an try within the quick nook. Beerensteyn was simply unable to free himself after a pleasant go from Van de Donk. The Dutch had pinned the opponent down on their very own, however the Finns slowly however certainly got here underneath the stress, with out actually turning into harmful. De Jong’s first save within the twenty fifth minute was obtained with cheers. The Dutch staff had problem discovering area between the compactly taking part in Finns and will now not actually turn into harmful.
After the break, the Netherlands began furiously once more. Van de Donk virtually shocked Korpela with a neat shot. A Martens header lacked energy and route. A objective, that might in fact match completely into the script, ideally the decisive one. And the viewers within the stadium and at dwelling on the sofa was virtually at his beck and name. From the sting of the sixteen she confirmed Martens class and despatched the ball in direction of the intersection. Nevertheless, goalkeeper Korpela escaped unscathed and heard the ball hit the crossbar above her.
— Lineth Beerensteyn scores the profitable objective; 1-0.
Tears
The massive distinction with the primary half was that the Dutch staff now saved the Finns underneath management. A objective was inevitable and within the sixty fifth minute Beerensteyn lastly scored after one more nook. Finland then straightened up for a second, however De Jong made a skillful save on a smothered shot. Below the management of the tireless Van de Donk and the strong-playing Brugts – Martens’ inheritor obvious – the Dutch staff went on the hunt for the second objective. However the one factor that Andries Jonker’s staff might be blamed for was that the Dutch staff did not take additional distance and determine the match.
The Netherlands gained each sport, destroyed Finland and took the lead within the group. However nobody considered that afterwards. In damage time, the signal with quantity 11 went up and Lieke Martens left the sector to nice applause. Everybody introduced again reminiscences of all these great Orange years. Not least Martens herself, who let her tears circulation and was cheered after the ultimate whistle. Present and former worldwide gamers fashioned a guard of honor for a fantastic footballer.
— Lieke Thanks!
Dream
The group chanted her identify incessantly and lots of banners got here out. One in all these canvases had the textual content: ‘Thanks Lieke, due to you I began taking part in soccer.’ A wonderful profession as a world with three European Championships and three World Cups, a European title, a World Cup ultimate, 159 worldwide matches and 62 targets is over after the away match in opposition to Finland on Tuesday, June 4. What at all times stays is that Lieke Martens gave all ladies within the Netherlands the dream of turning into the very best soccer participant on this planet.
‘I do not totally perceive it but’ Go to the reactions of Lieke Martens and Andries Jonker.
Statistics Go to the line-ups and different statistics of the Netherlands – Finland.
