The Netherlands will face Mexico in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™ after the Dutch produced one of the most stunning comebacks in this tournament’s history to eliminate France.
A penalty shootout was also required in the later kick-off as El Tri dug deep to edge out Italy, with goalkeeper Valentina Murrieta their star performer.
Read on for the lowdown on a day of high drama in Morocco.
Quarter-finals
France 2-2 Netherlands (6-7 PSO)
France goal: Rachael Adedini (34′), Luna Laboucarie (90+2′)
Netherlands goal: Rochelity Dap (90+3′), Ranneke Derks (90+8′)
The Dutch made history with two stoppage-time goals and a second successive shootout triumph as France snatched defeat from the jaws of seemingly certain victory.
Rochelity Dap and Ranneke Derks’ late, late efforts were followed by some remarkable drama from 12 yards, with Maren Groothoff producing the match-winning moment in sudden death by saving from Noemie Fatier.
That stop provided welcome redemption for the Dutch goalkeeper, who had gifted France a first-half lead when she allowed Rachael Adedini’s tame header to bobble through her grasp.
The French were well worth their advantage at this stage but lost momentum in the second half as the Dutch debutantes pushed for an equaliser.
There was a moment of high drama midway through the period when Liv Pennock raced in on goal. A heavy touch allowed Lauryne Chevray to sprint from her goal and smother, and things initially went bad from worse for Pinnock when she was sent off for catching the France keeper with on the head with a trailing boot.
The card was ultimately downgraded to a yellow after a VS review, sparking renewed Dutch hope that looked to have been extinguished again in the first minute of stoppage time, when substitute Luna Luboucarie raced clear to slot home.
The Netherlands, however, roared back to halve the deficit with seconds, as Dap capitalised on some lax defending to fire home expertly. The lightning-quick Dap continued to cause problems in some frantic final seconds, and another substitute, Ranneke Derks, volleyed home a brilliant equaliser in the 98th minute to force penalties.
The drama wasn’t over there, and it was only after surrendering a 3-0 shootout lead that the Dutch ultimately prevailed in sudden death, Groothoff saving from Fatier after Sophie van Hunnik had coolly rolled home.
Quotes
“It’s unbelievable, I feel like I just aged 40 years. After the second goal of France, I don’t know what it is, but this team, they kept fighting, they never gave up. I’m really proud of the girls. Every time when everybody thinks it’s over, this group, they show something and they keep fighting, they work for each other, they believe. I don’t know what it is, but this is a very special team.”
Olivier Amelink, Netherlands coach
“Maybe there was an unconscious drop in intensity from the girls [after our second goal], because we were trying straight away to get them refocused and remind them that the game wasn’t over. But unfortunately, that goal right after [our second] created quite a bit of nervousness. We really needed to stay tight until the end, because at 2-1 anything can happen from a single moment. Unfortunately, that’s what happened, so there’s disappointment and frustration, given how the match unfolded.”
Mickael Ferreira, France coach
“When I scored, I was just feeling so much, and that goal took us into the penalty shootout. Now we’re going to the semi-final and that’s the important thing for us.”
Ranneke Derks, Netherlands forward and Player of the Match
Player of the Match: Ranneke Derks (Netherlands)
Mexico 0-0 Italy (5-4 PSO)
Valentina Murrieta produced penalty saves from Rachele Giudici in normal time and a subsequent shootout as Mexico progressed to face the Dutch.
After the thrills and penalty drama in the earlier kick-off, these two sides continued the trend, with Murrieta to the fore from an early stage.
The Mexico goalkeeper was thrust into the spotlight during a remarkable passage in which El Tri thought they had taken the lead through Ava Stack’s smart finish. That was until a VS review that led not only to the goal being ruled out, but the awarding of a spot-kick to Italy for an earlier foul on Anna Copelli.
Murrieta, though, dived to her left to save from Italy captain Giudici, and it wouldn’t be the last time she would thwart the Azzurri. Later in the first half, Giulia Galli earned another penalty and stepped up herself to take it. But while she went for power, the outcome was the same, as Murrieta blocked with her legs to keep the score level.
The Mexico keeper remained a prominent figure in the second half, and produced another fine save to tip away a close-range header from Galli. The luckless Italy No7 later then glanced wide when Murrieta came for, and missed, a floated cross, and even found the net in stoppage time only for her effort to be ruled out for offside.
Mexico’s penalties, from Citlalli Reyes, Berenice Ibarra, Mia Villapando, Valeria Alvarado and Leila Avila, were flawless, ensuring that Murrieta’s save from Giudici became the shootout’s defining moment.
Quotes
“I’m really happy and grateful to my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone who’s been supporting me. We got the result we wanted, and now it’s time to keep going. I had so much faith in my teammates [during the penalty shootout]. I knew they could do it. I just told myself, ‘If I can stop one, that’s enough’.”
Valentina Murrieta, Mexico goalkeeper and Player of the Match
“We deserved more, there’s nothing else to say. We’re a fantastic team. It’s not the ending we wanted but that’s football”.
Martina Bressan, Italy player
“I believe that, apart from the two mistakes from the penalty spot, we showed that we are a great team. I don’t consider those two incidents; penalties are a lottery, they also depend on the moment. I congratulate the girls and all the staff. I wish them a bright future because they deserve it”.
Viviana Schiavi, Italy coach
