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07/05 13:34 CDT Euro 2025: Netherlands sparked by Miedema's 100th goal beats
Wales
Euro 2025: Netherlands sparked by Miedema's 100th goal beats Wales
LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) --- Netherlands great Vivianne Miedema's 100th goal
in international soccer was key to a 3-0 win over debut-making Wales at the
Women's European Championship on Saturday.
After Miedema's injury-hit season, no one expected the all-time Dutch record
goal-scorer to complete its opening game in the toughest of groups.
Those 70 minutes of Miedema were more than enough in a dominant win that gave
Wales a tough lesson in its entry to major women's tournament soccer.
The result and performance suggested the Euro 2017 champion --- and 2019 World
Cup finalist --- was up to advancing from Group D. England, the defending
champion, and France met later Saturday in Zurich.
Miedema made her historic mark scoring with a delightful curling shot in
stoppage time at the end of the first half.
The skill she showed to create the chance, by twice deceiving a defender when
faking to strike the ball, seemed unlikely to that point. Miedema's first touch
had been heavy in the penalty area and she seemed to lack match fitness after
so little game time at Manchester City because of knee and hamstring injuries.
The Dutch were relentless in the second half, adding goals in the 48th by
Victoria Pelova and the 57th by wing back Esmee Brugts.
It could have been more. The Wales crossbar was struck twice between the second
and third goals by shots from Jill Roord and Jackie Groenen. Roord also struck
a post with a first-half shot.
Miedema's exit let another recently injured star forward, Lineth Beerensteyn,
return to action and the winger quickly looked dangerous.
Wales veterans' debuts
Wales midfielder Jess Fishlock and Angharad James made their tournament debuts
in their 163rd and 133rd national team games, respectively.
"We have got to get used to this real fast," Fishlock told the BBC, citing
"lapses of concentration and focus" for the timing of conceding goals so close
around the break.
Wales captain James said first-game nerves could explain that "we looked a
little bit sluggish. We'll be disappointed with the result but I can't ask any
more of this group."
Cooling down
The Swiss heatwave during Euro 2025 cooled a little to 81 degrees (27 C) for
the 6 p.m. local time start in Lucerne. It helped to produce a faster-paced
game in the early kickoff slot.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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