U20 Women’s World Cup: Netherlands knocks out hosts to reach last 4

They survived  a dramatic clash with the hosts as the match was filled with tension.  However, it was the Netherlands goalkeeper, Liefting that made her presence known with two saves in a 3-0 penalty shootout triumph.

Columbia got the first goal as Karla Torres capitalised on a blocked shot, sending a ferocious shot flying past the Dutch keeper.

Netherlands however equalised, after Veerle Buurman nodded a free-kick across the face of goal for Fleur Stoit to head home.

Torres got her second midway through the second term to give Columbia the lead again. Released by Linda Caicedo, she burst into the box and fired another rocket past a diving Liefting.

Once again the Dutch would fightback with substitute Inske Weiman. The right-back collected a long ball from deep then lashed past Luisa Agudelo and sent the contest to extra time.

However, the extra time failed to produce a goal, leading to the first penalty shootout at Colombia 2024. Liefting emerged as the heroine, making a pair of saves as Colombia failed to convert any of their first three kicks.

Heartbreak for the hosts, joy for the Dutch as they reach the semis for a second consecutive tournament where they face Japan.