Euro 2025: Netherlands sparked by Miedema's 100th goal beats Wales
- - - Euro 2025: Netherlands sparked by Miedema's 100th goal beats Wales
July 6, 2025 at 2:09 AM
1 / 7APTOPIX Euro 2025 Wales Netherlands SoccerVivianne Miedema, from Netherlands scores the opening goal, her 100th for the Netherlands, during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP)
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.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Source: AOL Sports
