Miedema at the double as Netherlands crowned champions
August 6, 2017
Netherlands 4-2 Denmark
(Miedema 10,89, Martens 28, Spitse 51 - Nadim pen. 6', Harder 33')
Vivianne Miedema scored twice as the Netherlands were crowned European champions for the first time after beating Denmark in a six-goal thriller on Sunday.
Both nations were competing in their first European final having both made the semifinals four years ago in Sweden, but it was the host nation who were able to go all the way and claim the title with a display of attacking verve and energy.
The game ebbed and flowed with Denmark taking an early lead through a Nadia Nadim penalty after Sanne Troelsgaard was brought down by Kika van Es.
However, Denmark's lead was short-lived. The Oranje leveled four minutes later with a quality goal by Miedema, whose first-time finish from the always dangerous Shanice van de Sanden's cross ended a slick Netherlands move.
The hosts, who reached the final having won every game and only conceding one goal, put their noses in front through Lieke Martens, whose shot from the edge of the box really should have been stopped by the keeper.
Denmark showed their mettle to draw level before the break through their captain, Wolfsburg striker Permille Harder, who latched onto a speculative ball forward, cut inside the last defender and drilled a superb shot inside the near post.
The Netherlands were gifted another soft goal soon after the break when Sherida Spitse's freekick sneaked past the Danish wall, before Miedema put the icing on the cake with a fine finish on the counterattack, sealing victory for the Dutch on the biggest night in the nations' women's football history.