Netherlands vs. Canada results: Dutch top Canadians to claim Group E superiority

Rudi Schuller

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Netherlands vs. Canada results: Dutch top Canadians to claim Group E superiority image

Canada's perfect record in 2019 has finally been blemished after the Canadians fell 2-1 to the Netherlands on the final day of group-stage play at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Dutch were fully deserving of their victory as they played a smooth, attractive brand of soccer that kept Canada under pressure throughout. The Canadians were content to counterattack, and had several chances outside of Christine Sinclair's 60th-minute goal to find the back of the net. It wasn't meant to be for Canada, however, as a late flurry did not lead to an equalizer, meaning Canada would finish in second place in Group E behind the still-perfect Dutch.

Canada moves on to the round of 16 with a meeting on Monday against the second-place team from Group F.

Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from Thursday's crucial group stage match. Check out how it all went down:

Netherlands 2, Canada 1: Updates, highlights from Group E match at the 2019 Women's World Cup

Pre-game

First half

0:00 - Kick-off. Netherlands will win the group with a win or tie today, while Canada needs a victory.

1:02 - PENALTY. Janine Beckie is taken down in the area and the referee points to the spot. Wow.

3:50 - After a VAR check, the penalty is not awarded. Christine Sinclair (of course) to take the free kick from right on the 18-yard box.

4:55 - The free kick amounts to nothing. 

10:13 - Netherlands looking confident early on after the VAR delay. The large contingent of orange-clad fans in the stands is surely providing a boost.

17:00 - The Dutch enjoying 66 percent possession so far, but Canada seems very comfortable ceding the ball in non-dangerous areas.

20:33 - Canada starting to stroke the ball around a little now. Beckie gets sent down the left flank by Sinclair, but it's well defended.

21:13 - Jordyn Hutiema scores... but she's called for offside. As per usual, the assistant referee kept her flag down until after the ball was in the net, in case VAR was needed.

22:00 - Beckie tripped up while making a strong run in behind the Dutch back line. Anouk Dekker is shown yellow.

26:35 - Netherlands sends a long ball over the top for Vivianne Miedema to run on to, but Kadeisha Buchanan outpaces her. Well done by the Canadian centre back.

29:40 - Cleared off the line! A great Dutch cross leads to chaos in the Canadian goalmouth, but the ball somehow stays out.

31:57 - Miedema has the dreaded "shot that goes out for a throw-in," but Netherlands looking increasingly threatening here.

32:42 - Post! Miedema with an incredible turn inside the box create space for a shot, which rings off the far post. Canadian GK Stephanie Labbé had no chance on that one.

37:25 - Labbé is forced to rush well out of the area to clear a poor backpass. Buchanan then takes out Miedema with a heavy challenge, but the ref allows play to go on.

37:53 - Buchanan is shown yellow now that play has stopped. A fair call.

42:19 - Beckie gets off a long shot, but it's straight at the Dutch keeper. The play came off a clever little flick by Sinclair to get herself around her defender, before the Canadian captain passed off to Beckie.

45:00 - We're into three minutes of stoppage, although there should have been more given the VAR delay at the start of the game.

45:00 + 3 - The referee blows the whistle, and we'll go into the halftime break tied. Netherlands 0, Canada 0.

Second half

45:00 - Here we go. Expect Canada to try to open the game up as time ticks down.

47:45 - Sherida Spitse down in some pain after getting her hand stepped on by Huitema. Ouch.

53:17 - Free kick coming up for the Dutch. It's near the corner flag, so this is a dangerous one.

53:55 - ⚽️ GOAL ⚽️ Dekker rises to meet the in-swinger, and Labbé has no chance. Netherlands 1, Canada 0.

57:33 - Sinclair gets behind the defence and tries to hit the top corner. Her effort is just high, but she was offside anyway.

59:35 - ⚽️ GOAL ⚽️ Lawrence puts a low cross past the Dutch goalmouth and Sinclair slides to redirect it into the net. Netherlands 1, Canada 1.  57

66:09 - The game is, predictably, opening up now.

67:57 - Sinclair exits the game, with Adriana Leon replacing her. Allysha Chapman also makes her way out, with Jayde Riviere entering the match.

69:02 - Netherlands makes two changes now. Lineth Beerensteyn and Jill Roord in, Lieke Martens and Sherida Spitse out.

70:10 - Leon gets a chance, but her shot inside the Dutch area is well blocked.

74:50 - ⚽️ GOAL ⚽️ Beerensteyn sneaks in behind the play and pokes home a dangerous low cross. Netherlands 2, Canada. 1.

78:43 - Canada makes its final change, with Rebecca Quinn replacing Desiree Scott.

80:00 - Quinn goes into the referee's book almost immediately. That's one way to make an instant impact.

82:20 - Close! Beckie's diving header goes just wide after a great bit of work by Leon on the left flank.

85:21 - Canada's been camped out in the Dutch half for several minutes now. Throwing caution to the wind.

86:11 - Netherlands makes their final sub. Daniëlle van de Donk out, Renate Jansen in.

89:38 - Ellen Jansen is shown yellow for an overzealous foul on Ashley Lawrence.

90:00 - Four minutes added.

90:00 + 4 - The full-time whistle is blown. Canada loses its first game of 2019, and will finish second in Group E.

Rudi Schuller