Spain 3-3 Netherlands (agg 5-5, 5-4 on pen): La Roja triumph in quarterfinal

Nations League holders Spain survived a thrilling tussle with the Netherlands to reach the semi-finals, winning 5-4 on penalties after the teams shared six goals in Valencia.

Match Report

Three days on from an absorbing 2-2 draw between the teams in the first leg at De Kuip, the Estadio de Mestalla crowd saw an identical result in 90 minutes.

A fabulous goal from Lamine Yamal edged Spain ahead in extra time, but Xavi Simons scored the third penalty of the match – and the Netherlands' third equaliser on the night – to force spot-kicks.

The shoot-out went to sudden death after Noa Lang and Yamal both failed to convert, but when Unai Simon denied Donyell Malen, it was advantage Spain, and Pedri fired home to send them through to June's semi-finals.

The Netherlands were penned back from kick-off and after six minutes, Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily went through the back of Mikel Oyarzabal. Spain's Euro 2024 final hero dusted himself down and slotted his kick into the bottom-right corner.

Oyarzabal thought he had a second goal in the 11th minute, having taken Yamal's pass in his stride before stroking home, but he was frustrated by the offside flag.

Nine minutes into the second period, the Oranje hit back with a penalty of their own after Robin Le Normand pulled Memphis Depay down. Like Oyarzabal in the first half, Depay picked himself up and coolly converted from 12 yards.

Spain inched back in front in the 67th minute with Oyarzabal finishing a flowing counterattack. He was fed by a wonderful reverse pass from Williams, and though Verbruggen parried his attempted lob, he was alert to nod in the rebound.

The visitors refused to go away quietly, though, with debutant Ian Maatsen drawing them level for a second time with a thunderous finish in the 79th minute.

The action continued to flow in the additional period, with Yamal scoring the goal of the tie. With half-time in extra time looming, he took Dean Huijsen's long pass down on the heel of his left boot, cut inside his marker and curled a wonderful effort into the far corner. 

It was a goal worthy of winning any game, but Simons won and converted the third penalty of the match in the 109th minute, ensuring the tie would be decided by a shoot-out.

Lang was the first player to blink in the shoot-out as his kick struck the crossbar, but Yamal then rolled his first senior penalty straight at Verbruggen.

However, Spain came out on top, Simon repelling Malen's tame effort before Pedri scored the decider, teeing up a meeting with France in June.

Data debrief: Spain edge rollercoaster affair

Fireworks were always expected when these teams were paired together in the last eight draw, and they contrived to top Thursday's thrilling first-leg encounter here.

It looked like Yamal's extra-time stunner would prove decisive, and the Barcelona winger has now been involved in 12 goals for Spain under Luis de la Fuente (four goals, eight assists) – more than any other player.

But the Netherlands simply refused to go away, scoring three equalisers in a single match for the fourth time in their history – they previously did so against Belgium in March 1939 and Switzerland in 1950, and they even levelled four times in another meeting with Belgium in 1951.

Ultimately, however, La Roja's spot-kick experience told. They also needed penalties to beat Croatia in the 2023 Nations League final, and they have now won back-to-back shoot-outs for the second time in their history, after winning three straight between 2008 and 2013.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Penalty Goal! Oyarzabal strokes it beyong Verbruggen! Spain 1-0 Netherlands

11' Yamal sets up Oyarzabal, who scores confidently but is ruled offside!

13' Williams gets a chance from Huijsen's pass, but Verbruggen saves!

19' Highlight from Spain vs Netherlands

23' Kluivert takes a shot from distance but it sails just over!

24' Verbruggen recovered from a slow start, making key saves against Williams!

46' Match Event for Spain vs Netherlands

53' Penalty Goal! Depay dusts himself down & makes no mistake! Spain 1-1 Netherlands

57' Highlight from Spain vs Netherlands

60' Match Event for Spain vs Netherlands

61' Williams toe-pokes towards box, but Verbruggen makes a sharp save at near post!

67' GOAL! Mikel Oyarzabal is there to nod home the rebound! Spain 2-1 Netherlands

79' GOAL! Ian Maatsen smashes it into the top corner! Spain 2-2 Netherlands

103' GOAL! Lamine Yamal cuts in and fires into the far corner! Spain 3-2 Netherlands

109' Penalty Goal! Simons scores & the game is level once more! Spain 3-3 Netherlands

Line-ups

Spain XI: Le Normand, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Oyarzabal, Olmo, Martín Zubimendi, Óscar Mingueza, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Yamal

Subs: Morata, Grimaldo, Álex Remiro, A.García, David Raya, Merino, Ferran Torres, Álex Baena, Porro, Pedri, Raúl Asencio, Samu Aghehowa

Netherlands XI: Depay, Van Dijk, De Jong, Kluivert, Gakpo, Lutsharel Geertruida, Reijnders, Jeremie Frimpong, Maatsen, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen

Subs: Nick Olij, Mark Flekken, De Ligt, Koopmeiners, Lang, Malen, Kenneth Taylor, Brian Brobbey, Mats Wieffer, Xavi Simons, Youri Baas