USWNT vs. Netherlands result: USA advances to Olympic soccer semifinals after penalty kick shootout win

Simon Borg

USWNT vs. Netherlands result: USA advances to Olympic soccer semifinals after penalty kick shootout win image

After suffering quarterfinal elimination on penalty kicks at the 2016 Olympics, the U.S. women's national team tasted quarterfinal victory by the shootout, knocking off No. 4-ranked Netherlands after a 2-2 draw.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was the star of the game. She stopped a potential game-winning penalty kick with 10 minutes to go in regulation and then saved another two Dutch penalty attempts in the shootout to help the USWNT advance to face Canada in the Olympic soccer semifinals on Monday at 4 a.m. ET.

Lynn Williams was the attacking standout for the USA in a surprise Olympic start, her first of this tournament. She delivered the cross on the USA's opening goal and then scored the second, which gave the USA a momentary 2-1 lead. But Olympic top scorer Vivianne Miedema scored her second of the match to equalize for the Netherlands, taking her tournament total to a record 10 goals.

DECOURCY: Naeher wasn't perfect until she was magnificent 

But Miedema could not convert in the penalty kick shootout, watching Naeher save her attempt on the very first kick. Naeher also stopped the Dutch's fourth kick by Aniek Nouwen to set up Megan Rapinoe for the clinching strike.

USWNT vs. Netherlands final score (4-2 on PKs)

  1H 2H ET1 ET2 Final
USA 2 0 0 0 2
Netherlands 1 1 0 0 2

Goal:
NED: Vivianne Miedema - 18th min
USA: Sam Mewis (Lynn Williams) - 28th min
USA: Lynn Williams - 31st min
NED: Vivianne Miedema - 54th min

(All times Eastern)

Penalty-Kick Shootout (USWNT wins 4-2 on PKs)

PK Shootout: That's it! The USWNT makes all four penalty kicks and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stops two attempts in the shootout to send the USA into the semis against Canada.

Round 4: Megan Rapinoe buries it and the USA advances!! - NED 2, USA 4

Round 4: Naeher saves another! Aniek Nouwen's shot is stopped - NED 2, USA 3

Round 3: Christen Press is clinical with her attempt - NED 2, USA 3

Round 3: Stefanie van der Gragt clangs it off the post and in - NED 2, USA 2

Round 2: Alex Morgan scores on the short run-up - NED 1, USA 2

Round 2: Dominique Janssen scores - NED 1, USA 1

Round 1: Rose Lavelle nets her kick - NED 0, USA 1

Round 1: Vivianne Miedema's first kick is saved by USA's Naeher! - NED 0, USA 0

End of 2nd Extra Time period: USWNT 2, Netherlands 2

End of Extra Time: The USWNT pushed hard toward the end of the extra time period, but it could not find a goal. We're heading to a penalty-kick shootout.

119th min: Lindsey Horan with a great recovery tackle in midfield and it leads to a chance for Press in the box, but it's cleared for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

118th min: Rapinoe makes a run down the left and she has no help so she fires toward goal, but it's slightly off target.

113th min: Another offside goal by the USA! This time it's Alex Morgan who's offside after she looked to capitalize on a defensive mix-up by the Dutch, who left Morgan with an empty net. Still 2-2.

109th min: Christen Press scores, but it's ruled offside! Again! Megan Rapinoe sends the ball into her between two defenders and Press megged the 'keeper on the shot, but she was narrowly offside.

107th min: Miedema is still lurking in the U.S. box for the Dutch. Her header goes high.

106th min: There are 15 minutes left before we head to a PK shootout. The Netherlands looked the better team in the first extra time period. What's concerning for USWNT fans is that the Dutch pressing is leading to turnovers, but the Americans can't seem to exert the same type of pressure. They have to be careful in possession.

End of 1st Extra Time period: USWNT 2, Netherlands 2

106th min: Press promptly gives it away in midfield and Dutch forward Beerensteyn gets a shot off that's just high. And we switch sides for the second extra time period.

105th min: Christen Press with a header that misses the target, but it's a great look on a cross from the left.

103rd min: The Dutch are combining well in the attack and Miedema gets a header on goal which Naeher parries away for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

101st min: The USWNT gives the ball away and Vivianne Miedema almost got a shot off, but Julie Ertz comes up with the fantastic defensive play in the box to thwart her.

99th min: Best play of the extra time by the USWNT. Lavelle feeds Rapinoe on the left and the winger weaves her way into the box and fires into the side netting.

95th min: Incredible. The Dutch put the ball in the net on the corner! But it's called back for offside. Unbelievable double bounce on the crossbar and the Dutch push it over the line, but the players were offside.

94th min: Fantastic sliding challenge in the box by Crystal Dunn to foil another Dutch opportunity, giving up the corner.

91st min: Miedema fires the first warning shot in the extra period and it's high. Then she follows it up with another shot that's right at the goalkeeper.

Regulation: USWNT 2, Netherlands 2

End of Regulation: Not a good second half from the USWNT. The Dutch were better and had the chance to win it on the penalty kick. The Americans can't seem to get into an attacking flow despite the subs. It's almost as if they're waiting on someone to make a play and no one has shown the magic touch so far.

95th min: USWNT can't capitalize on one last free kick into the box from Megan Rapinoe and we're headed to extra time.

90th min: Extra time looms after a U.S. corner kick goes to waste. There will be five minutes of stoppage time.

87th min: Great goalkeeping by Alyssa Naeher, who comes off her line to snag the ball off the feet of Lineth Beerensteyn, who's been dangerous since coming on.

86th min: And now Danielle van de Donk with a header that just misses the right post. The Dutch are more dangerous than the USA even though the Americans have the fresher legs up top.

83rd min: The Dutch are not discouraged and just missed the USA's right post with a shot from outside the box.

81st min: Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher with the penalty-kick save! Martens goes low right and Naeher read it the whole way. Still 2-2.

80th min: Penalty for Netherlands! Lineth Beerensteyn is brought down in the box by Kelley O'Hara and Lieke Martens steps up to take it.

77th min: Lindsey Horan gets a yellow card for a lunging tackle on Danielle van de Donk in midfield.

74th min: The USWNT has been poking and prodding in attack but can't seem to find a way through.

64th min: SUB - Now it's Megan Rapinoe coming into the match for Tobin Heath. There are now fresh legs across the entire USWNT front line.

63rd min: After the Dutch make a substitution, the USWNT scores a goal, but it's ruled offside. Christen Press talliied on the cross by Lindsey Horan and Press looked just off. That's a seventh U.S. goal called back for offside at these Olympics.

61st min: USWNT goes on the break and Rose Lavelle feeds Christen Press wide left. Her shot is saved comfortably by the Dutch 'keeper.

58th min: SUBS - Triple sub for USA: Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis and Carli Lloyd all come off, with Christen Press, Rose Lavelle and Alex Morgan coming in.

54th min: Netherlands scores! We go from a near goal for the USA to an equalizer by the Dutch. And, of course, it's Miedema who gets away from Abby Dahlkemper and unleashes a shot that goes through the legs of Julie Ertz and skips past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Her Olympic goals record is now in double digita - 10 goals.

53rd min: What a play by Lindsey Horan! She controls and turns at goal on the left side and her ball into Carli Lloyd is perfect, but Lloyd can't put it away. Great chance for the USA

46th min: We're underway in the second half. The USWNT is 45 minutes away from an Olympic semifinal against Canada.

Halftime Score: USWNT 2, Netherlands 1

Halftime: Lynn Williams is the story of the first half with a goal and assist in her first 2021 Olympic start. Her decision making in the final third has been excellent and the end-product has been even better. The Americans need to keep an eye on Vivianne Miedema, who looks like she has more goals in her. The Dutch are still in this game, and the shots (7-6 for USA) and possession are fairly even. But this has been a confident performance thus far by the USWNT and it was telling that the team was unfazed when it conceded the early goal.

43rd min: Miedema with a header on goal off a corner that's caught by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Making her 100th appearance for the Netherlands, Miedema continues to be the primary scoring threat although the wingers are busy, too.

39th min: The USWNT firing shots in the box, but can't get a clean look. Crystal Dunn joining the attack on this instance. We knew the Dutch were vulnerable defensively and the USWNT is so far proving that to be true.

31st min: And now Lynn Williams scores! The USWNT takes the 2-1 lead after a U.S. corner kick bounces in the Dutch box and Williams turns on the loose ball to score.

28th min: And just as we say that, the USWNT scores! Lynn Williams with a beautiful move down the right and she sends a cross that Sam Mewis crouches down to head home. Well-crafted goal.

27th min: No response from the USWNT just yet. The Netherlands have also gone quiet.

18th min: Disaster for the USA. Olympic top scorer Vivianne Miedema scores on her second touch of the game. The ball was bouncing around in the U.S. box and she pounced on it. A scorer's finish and her Olympic record 9th goal.

14th min: USWNT hits the post! Technically it was the Dutch 'keeper who pushed a Lindsey Horan downward header against the right post. The cross came from Lynn Williams.

10th min: USWNT scores, but it's offside. Julie Ertz sent Tobin Heath into the box and she put it inside the side netting, but Heath was barely offside on the pass.

7th min: Positive touch by Lynn Williams into the box and it helps the USWNT earn a corner kick, though nothing comes of it. The USA has been controlling possession early on.

1st min: We're off. USWNT in its white kits and the Dutch in classic orange kits.

6:26 a.m.: The match airs at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Arlo White and Julie Foudy on the call:

5:47 a.m.: This lineup is going to be a topic of discussion if the USWNT doesn't pull this off against the Dutch:

USWNT vs. Netherlands starting lineups

U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski named an interesting lineup for the win-or-go-home quarterfinal against the Netherlands with Lynn Williams getting the start ahead of Christen Press. Also, star players Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe are starting on the bench, likely due to their yellow card warning status. Should either receive a caution card in the quarterfinal, they would be forced to sit out an eventual semifinal.

MORE: U.S. women Olympic team roster

USA

Starters (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alyssa Naeher — 2-Crystal Dunn, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 17-Abby Dahlkemper, 5-Kelley O’Hara — 3-Samantha Mewis, 8-Julie Ertz, 9-Lindsey Horan —  7-Tobin Heath, 10-Carli Lloyd, 21-Lynn Williams

Substitutes: 18-Adrianna Franch-GK, 14-Emily Sonnett, 6-Kristie Mewis, 16-Rose Lavelle, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 11-Christen Press, 13-Alex Morgan

Sitting out: 22-Jane Campbell-GK, 20-Casey Krueger, 12-Tierna Davidson, 19-Catarina Macario

Netherlands

Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Sari van Veenendaal-GK — 17-Dominique Janssen, 4-Aniek Nouwen, 3-Stefanie van der Gragt, 2-Lynn Wilms  — 10-Danielle van de Donk, 14-Jackie Groenen, 6-Jill Roord — 11-Lieke Martens, 9-Vivianne Miedema, 7-Shanice van de Sanden

Substitutes: 16-Lize Kop-GK, 5-Merel van Dongen, 21-Anouk Dekker,  15-Kika van Es, 13-Victoria Pelova, 18-Lineth Beerensteyn, 19-Renate Jansen

Sitting out: 22-Loes Geurts-GK, 20-Inessa Kaagman, 12-Sisca Folkertsma, 8-Joelle Smits

How to watch USWNT vs. Netherlands Olympic soccer

  • Date: Friday, July 30
  • Time: 7 a.m. ET
  • TV channels: NBCSN
  • Spanish-language TV: Telemundo
  • Streaming: fuboTV , NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and Telemundo Deportes app (with user authentication)

USA vs. Netherlands will air live on NBCSN and Telemundo at 7 a.m. ET. Both networks are available to be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial) .

All Olympic soccer matches are also streamed in the USA on NBCOlympics.com, TelemundoDeportes.com, NBC Sports app and the Telemundo Deportes app — all with user authentication.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.