She Kicks Magazine
·3 July 2023
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Yahoo sportsShe Kicks Magazine
·3 July 2023
Belgium’s Feli Delacauw with the Netherlands’ Danielle van de Donk. (Photo by GERRIT VAN KEULEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
The weekend’s warm-up matches for several of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers featured a big win for the Dutch over Belgium, Italy being held by Morocco and a South African protest.
Netherlands thrashed Belgium 5-0 in front of a 12,000 crowd, despite an early penalty miss from Stephanie van der Gragt. Lieke Martens had already scored by that point, Sherida Spitse was then successful from the spot, with Lineth Beerensteyn adding a third before the break. Victoria Pelova and Katja Snoeijs later added a goal apiece.
Italy were held to a goalless draw by fellow qualifiers Morocco in Ferrara, while in France Haiti were defeating Malta 5-0 with Kethna Louis, Batcheba Louis, Borgella Roselord, Nerila Mondesir and Schwendesky Joseph all on target.
Sabah Seghir of Morocco competes for the ball with Chiara Beccari of Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
World Cup qualifiers South Africa had to field a second string in a 5-0 defeat to Botswana, following a protest from players in their World Cup send-off match.
A crowd of 20,000 saw Brazil beat Chile 4-0, as Gabi Nunes, Duda and Luana’s first-half goals were added to by Geyse five minutes after the restart.
Chile’s Fernanda Pinilla (R) and Brazil’s Geyse fight for the ball. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)
China edged Football Union of Russia 1-0 in Qingdao, with a 53rd-minute penalty converted by Zhang Rui.