Spain Prevails Over Netherlands in Nail-Biting Penalty Shootout to Secure Nations League Semi-Final Berth

European champions Spain maintained their unbeaten streak at 18 matches in a thrilling showdown, triumphing over the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties at Mestalla to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League (UNL) following an exhilarating 5-5 aggregate deadlock.

The Dutch began the quarter-final second leg in disastrous fashion, conceding a penalty just six minutes in when Jan Paul van Hecke was penalised for bringing down Mikel Oyarzabal.

Euro 2024 final hero Oyarzabal took the responsibility and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner, his powerful strike evading the fingertips of Bart Verbruggen.

Now with 14 international goals, Oyarzabal appeared to have doubled Spain’s lead soon after with a stunning finish into the opposite corner, but unfortunately for him, he was deemed offside after timing his run slightly prematurely to connect with Lamine Yamal’s through-ball.

The offside ruling also overshadowed a brilliant save from Verbruggen shortly after, which occurred when an offside Oyarzabal set up Nico Williams for a one-on-one, only for the Dutch keeper to deny him.

The Netherlands settled into the match and managed to hold their ground until half-time, and after both Oscar Mingueza and Justin Kluivert squandered opportunities at the start of the second half, they equalised.

There was a penalty awarded once again after Robin Le Normand brought down Memphis Depay inside the area.

Depay stepped up and marked his 100th cap in style, sending the ball into the top-left corner beyond a wrong-footed Unai Simon.

Williams and Yamal could have restored Spain’s lead around the hour mark, but Verbruggen was on hand to save both their attempts.

However, it was Williams who played a pivotal role in La Roja retaking the lead in the 67th minute, orchestrating a counter-attack following Ian Maatsen’s misplaced pass deep in Spanish territory.

Though he faced heavy pressure in the box, he managed to cut back for the unmarked Oyarzabal, who drew a spectacular one-handed save from Verbruggen before netting the rebound.

The Dutch desperately needed a hero, and in the 78th minute, Maatsen redeemed himself by blasting the ball into the far corner from a Xavi Simons pass delivered deep into the box.

With no further goals in normal time, the match proceeded to 30 minutes of extra time. It felt like a contest that could swing either way, but as the Dutch players grew fatigued, Spain’s relentless passing game began to pay dividends.

With 103 minutes gone, they took the lead for the third time when a series of classic tiki-taka exchanges culminated in a long pass to Yamal on the right flank.

The young Barcelona star drifted infield, outpacing his defender before firing a powerful shot into the far-left corner past Verbruggen.

This was a classic Barcelona manoeuvre that left former Blaugrana manager Ronald Koeman astounded from the visitors’ dugout.

Despite this, the Netherlands answered back once again from the penalty spot, as a failed clearance in the Spanish box saw Simon bring down Simons, resulting in a clear penalty.

He just about found the bottom-right corner although Simon guessed correctly once again, providing a prelude for the tense penalty shoot-out that was to follow at the Mestalla.

Noa Lang struck the post, and Yamal was thwarted when aiming down the middle in an otherwise flawless round of penalties from both teams. Then, when Donyell Malen missed the first penalty in sudden death, Pedri blasted Spain into the semi-finals with a strike into the top-right corner. Spain now progresses to face France in the next round.