Spain oust Netherlands on penalties

They won 5-4 on shoot out after drawing 5-5 on aggregate

VALENCIA:

Nations League holders Spain reached the final four with a 5-4 win on penalties against the Netherlands, after a thrilling 3-3 quarter-final second leg draw on Sunday had left the tie 5-5 on aggregate.

Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona's Pedri slotted home to settle a gripping match in which the Netherlands came from behind three times to force the shoot-out.

"Playing extra-time and penalties made it even more epic, it was a great game for the fans to watch," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain but Memphis Depay levelled from the penalty spot.

Oyarzabal grabbed Spain's second before Ian Maatsen rifled home to force extra-time.

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal, who also missed a penalty in the shoot-out, scored a brilliant goal to put Spain ahead but Xavi Simons netted another spot-kick to force penalties.

"It's so nice to wear this shirt and to be able to score this goal," Pedri told TVE, with his side facing France in the semi-finals.

"We're Spain and we don't have to fear anyone," added Pedri.

After Spain's struggles in Rotterdam on Thursday in the 2-2 first-leg draw, coach Luis de la Fuente made a handful of changes.

Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo came in for Alvaro Morata and Pedri, while Dean Huijsen made his first start, against the country of his birth, and excelled.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman brought in debutant Maatsen at left-back, giving him the unenviable challenge of shackling 17-year-old prodigy Yamal at Valencia's sold-out Mestalla stadium.

Spain won a penalty early on when Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily brought down Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for La Roja in the Euro 2024 final last summer.

The Real Sociedad forward took it himself, smashing into the bottom right corner, past Bart Verbruggen's dive.

Oyarzabal had a goal ruled out for offside and the Brighton goalkeeper denied Nico Williams with a superb stop.

Bournemouth centre-back Huijsen, 19, was jeered by the travelling Dutch fans, upset he did not choose to play for them, but Spain supporters backed him in response and he shone.

"He played like he's been playing for years in the elite and years with us," said De la Fuente. "He's a magnificent, wonderful boy."

'Fortune decided spain won'

Koeman's side levelled after 54 minutes with a penalty of their own when Depay, on his 100th Oranje appearance, threw himself to the ground after tussling with Robin Le Normand.

Despite the hosts' protests the contentious decision stood and Depay blasted home from the spot.

Spain's dynamic wingers helped restore their lead with a razor-sharp counter-attack.

Yamal released Williams, who drove into the box and slipped the ball to Oyarzabal. Although Verbruggen saved his attempted dink, the Spaniard headed home the rebound.

Netherlands responded swiftly, capitalising when Olmo gave the ball away inside his area.

Substitute Simons slipped a clever pass to Maatsen on the left and the Aston Villa defender brilliantly rifled into the top corner to force extra-time.

De la Fuente sent on Pedri and Arsenal's Mikel Merino, who salvaged Spain a draw in the first leg, and his team took the lead after 103 minutes.

Huijsen lofted the ball into Yamal's path and the winger controlled it on the run and beat Maatsen before pulling off an exquisite finish.

The Dutch battled back again, with Simons winning and converting a penalty in the 109th minute after he was felled by goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Both sides netted their first three penalties in the shoot-out, before Netherlands' Noa Lang hit the crossbar and Verbruggen saved a tame Yamal effort.

In sudden death Simon saved low from Malen and Pedri coolly sent Spain through to the final four for a repeat of their Euros semi-final against France.

"I think that both teams should have gone through but that's impossible," Koeman told reporters. "In part fortune decided it Spain won."