Spain 3-3 Netherlands: La Roja advances to the 'final four' of the Nations League on penalties

The reigning champion of the UEFA Nations League remains in the 'race' to defend the title. In an eternal match at Mestalla, the national team advanced to the 'final four' through penalties (3-3, 5-4 p.), in a shootout defined by a great penalty from Pedri González and thanks to the interventions of Unai Simón. Spain was always ahead on the scoreboard, even from the start. Later, the match turned into a constant back-and-forth, leading to penalties.

The result, just like in the first leg in Rotterdam, favored La Roja from the outset. In the 8th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty, placing his left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Verbruggen's reach. The Real Sociedad forward took charge of a foul he himself had caused after being knocked down by Van Hecke, who was clumsy in trying to reach the ball in the area.

Spain maintained the lead without surprises in the first half

Oyarzabal himself scored the second a couple of minutes later, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Lamine Yamal had orchestrated the action with a quick break and a perfectly threaded pass for the San Sebastián attacker. Spain was a deluge in the first quarter of an hour and Verbruggen, with a fantastic save, prevented a goal from Nico Williams by blocking the winger's shot in a one-on-one.

The Athletic player was a nightmare for the Dutch defense throughout the first half, but the Basque lacked precision to extend the lead. After half an hour of play, the 'Orange' regained possession, slowing down a match that seemed destined to be lost by a wide margin at the start. However, Ronald Koeman's side found no solutions in a slow transition, quite predictable for a well-organized La Roja.

Memphis Depay equalized thanks to a controversial penalty

In the second half, unfortunately, the lead did not last long. Dani Olmo came very close to scoring right after the restart, but the rival defense managed to neutralize his low shot, sending the ball to the corner. From the corner kick, Óscar Mingueza failed to comfortably head a cross delivered by Nico, which Le Normand had flicked on very well from the near post.

Netherlands reacted with a couple of opportunities neutralized by Unai Simón, but in the 53rd minute, a cross from Jeremie Frimpong from the right ended in a slight pull by Le Normand on Memphis Depay inside the area. The replay did not show a clear foul, but referee Clément Turpin had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Depay himself took the penalty, placing a right-footed shot into the corner, impossible for the Spanish goalkeeper.

The 1-1 gave the Dutch greater confidence, and if it weren't for Unai, Memphis would have scored the second a couple of minutes later with a strike that the '23' cleared with difficulty. Spain responded with a shot from Lamine Yamal that Verbruggen caught without problems. A couple of minutes later, the visiting goalkeeper again showed his reflexes to neutralize, with his chest, a shot from Nico Williams. 

The closing of the match at Mestalla was madness

When Luis de la Fuente was ready to bring on Ferran Torres for Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward scored again, taking advantage of a lethal counterattack orchestrated by Lamine and Nico. Mikel received the threaded pass from the Athletic winger, tried to chip it over Verbruggen, but the goalkeeper reacted with a slap. Fortunately, the rebound fell short and the '21' ended up heading in to make it 2-1 in the 67th minute.

La Roja seemed to be on the path to qualification, but Ian Maatsen equalized the match and the tie in the 79th minute, with a powerful strike following an assist from Xavi Simons after a poor clearance from the hosts. Pedri and Mikel Merino came on for Olmo and Fabián Ruiz to seek victory in the final five minutes. In stoppage time, there were clear chances in both areas, but the draw persisted until the end, leading to extra time.

Lamine Yamal, author of a stunning goal in extra time

In extra time, Spain, physically fresher, tilted the field back in their favor. In the 103rd minute, Lamine Yamal appeared with a stunning goal to restore the lead for the hosts. Dean Huijsen set up the '19' with a cross pass that the winger controlled with a 'crack' gesture, cutting inside to unleash a placed shot to the far post, impossible for Verbruggen.

However, Netherlands equalized again in the 109th minute, thanks to another penalty, this time a clear one from Unai Simón on Xavi Simons. The RB Leipzig player himself took the penalty, adjusting his shot to the right post of the Spanish goalkeeper, although announced, perfectly placed. Unai, however, kept Spain alive until the penalties, with a colossal save in the last action of the match against Xavi.

Spain was more effective in the penalties

Finally, we had to wait for the penalty shootout to determine the qualifier, where Unai Simón was the undisputed hero of La Roja. The '23' saved the shots from Noa Lang (third) and Donyell Malen (sixth), in a shootout that had to wait for sudden death to be decided. Lamine Yamal missed the fourth penalty for the national team, but Pedri scored the sixth and decisive penalty to seal qualification. 

Once again, the Orange team came up empty-handed in a final against Spain. Now, Luis de la Fuente's team will face France in the semifinals, the same opponent they defeated in the last European Championship (2-1). The tie will be played on June 5 in Stuttgart, one day after Germany-Portugal in Munich. The final will be on June 8 at Bayern Munich's stadium.