Holland marched into the FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-finals at Allianz Stadium on 6 August, the Lieke Martens-inspired side proving too strong for a gallant South Africa, who succumbed 2-0 in front of 40,233 fans in the first knockout fixture to take place in Australia at an event which has captured the imagination on both sides of the Tasman like no other before it. "Banyana Banyana" offered the first threat in the sixth minute, Bongeka Gamede switching play to Linda Motlhalo, who sent the ever-dangerous Thembi Kgatlana racing through on goal. Her shot was well saved by Daphne Van Domselaar, who was to have a fine game twixt the sticks for the Dutch. The "Oranje Leeuwinnen" responded virtually straight away, with interest. Esmee Brugts fired their first shot in anger, a wicked curling effort which dipped late and forced Kaylin Swart to tip the ball over the bar. Sherida Spitse's resulting corner was delivered to the near post, to where Martens was making a darting run. She directed a header goalwards which Lebohang Ramalepe scooped skywards off the goal line, the ball dropping perfectly for Jill Roord to head home from point-blank range - 1-0 after just nine minutes. The South Africans were rocked by the goal, but responded swiftly, with Jermaine Seoposenwe sending Kgatlana spearing through the inside right channel. She outpaced Stefanie Van der Gragt before battering a shot towards the target which Van Domselaar tipped over the bar, a save missed by the match officials, who awarded Holland a goal-kick. Back came Holland, Brugts switching play to Victoria Pelova, who evaded a challenge before crossing to Jackie Groenen. The ball was swiftly transitioned via Danielle Van der Donk and the recalled Lineth Beerensteyn to Martens, whose twenty-yard effort was blocked to safety. Just shy of the half-hour mark, Martens slalomed her way through four challenges before being stopped in her tracks by Bambanani Mbane, at a time when "Banyana Banyana" were down to ten women, Seoposenwe having left the field with an injury which ultimately prompted her premature departure from the fray. Swart also kept out a shot on the turn from Van de Donk during this time, but once the South Africans were restored to their full complement, and Van Domselaar and Swart had exchanged fine saves to foil Kgatlana and Brugts respectively, the African champions piled on the pressure in pursuit of an equaliser before half-time. Kholosa Biyana and Motlhalo combined to send Kgatlana storming through the Dutch offside trap, leaving her one-on-one with Van Domselaar, who blocked the striker's shot then grabbed the loose ball before "Banyana Banyana"'s principal attacking weapon could capitalise. The Dutch responded through Martens, who sent Beerensteyn racing through in pursuit of a through ball which Swart was first to reach. She then came well off her line to gather a Spitse free-kick in traffic, and promptly sent the ball downtown, given Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia were lurking with intent near the halfway line. Sure enough, they combined to great effect, with Kgatlana once again resuming her rivalry with Van Domselaar. Again the goalkeeper prevailed, then produced a splendid save diving to her left to keep

out Wendy Shongwe's bid to batter the ball into the net. Alas for South Africa, they rarely threatened in the second spell, during which Holland took charge of the contest, attacking from the outset. A sliced clearance resulted in a 48th minute corner which saw Spitse again pick out Martens, whose flicked header invited Beerensteyn to go for goal. Her header looped over the bar. Six minutes later, the Video Assistant Referee denied Martens the goal her performance fully merited, Pelova having just strayed offside upon receipt of Beerensteyn's pass in the build-up to what would have been a goal from which South Africa would likely never have recovered. In response, they launched a 64th minute attack which saw Kgatlana latch onto a raking clearance and surge into the penalty area, only to be stopped in her tracks by Spitse's well-timed tackle. Had Van de Donk timed her tackle in midfield as well three minutes later, she would likely be available for the quarter-final - her booking means she misses out. At that stage, Holland weren't certain of advancing to the last eight, but that situation was significantly bolstered in the 68th minute when Martens controlled a ball on her chest on halfway then sent Beerensteyn surging through onto an inch-perfect volleyed pass. The striker's angled shot went through the hands of Swart and rolled into the net beyond - a goalkeeping howler which all but sealed "Banyana Banyana"'s fate, as Holland were now two goals to the good. After Roord had seen a shot deflected to safety, South Africa went desperately close to halving the deficit in the 72nd minute. Kgatlana instigated the attack, with Magaia's cross to the near post finding Biyana lurking with intent. The ball was cleared to Motlhalo, who fair battered a shot from the edge of the area which had "goal" written all over it until Van Domselaar plunged to her left to pull off another fine save - she had a great game. Back came Holland once more, Beerensteyn and Brugts combining for Martens' benefit, only for Swart to intervene. Soon after, Van de Donk opted to be unselfish for Beerensteyn's benefit when she should have gone for goal herself. That chance went begging, while the offside flag denied Beerensteyn her second goal of the game eleven minutes from time. There was no way back for South Africa after this, and after Roord had fired over from the edge of the area, Martens delivered a scrumptious curling cross from the left which Beerensteyn only just failed to make contact with on the far post. A last hurrah from South Africa materialised in stoppage time, Kgatlana, inevitably, their talisman. She evaded a challenge before unleashing a shot which cannoned off Van der Graft, Van Domselaar denying Desiree Ellis' team any hope of a last souvenir from South Africa's most successful FIFA Women's World Cup Finals campaign to date. Holland:     Van Domselaar; Spitse, Van der Graft, Janssen; Pelova (Wilms, 88), Roord (Snoeijs, 90), Groenen, Van de Donk (booked, 67 (Egurrola, 75)), Brugts (Casparij, 88); Beerensteyn, Martens (Baijings, 90) S. Africa:     Swart; Ramalepe, Mbane (Makhubela, 42), Matlou, Dhlamini; Seoposenwe (Shongwe, 30), Gamede, Motlhalo (Kgadiete, 90), Biyana, Magaia (Cesane, 90); Kgatlana