Banyana Banyana Beaten 5:1 by the Netherlands, Produce a Gutsy Display in a Losing Effort Against the Dutch

• Damari Egurrola scored twice as the Orange Lionesses ran out 5-1 winners against Banyana Banyana
• Banyana Banyana have played the Netherlands eight times now but have never been able to beat them
• Thembi Kgatlana was a handful for the Dutch defenders, scoring Banyana's only goal, but lacked little support upfront

Banyana Banyana produced a brave and gutsy effort against the Netherlands in a losing effort in Holland.

Banyana lost the encounter 5-1, but the scoreline was not a true testament to the display the South African Women produced.

The Netherlands started the game off on the front foot, spending the first five minutes camped in Banyana’s half of the pitch. The Dutch outfit looked like they were going to run riot but failed to find the final touches to unlock the Banyana defence.

South Africa were not without their attacking options though, as Thembi Kgatlana looked lively on the left-wing.

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The speedy forward, who plays for Atletico Madrid, troubled the Dutch defenders when South Africa did counter.

Netherlands took the lead in the 12th minute when Jackie Groenen unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box. Their lead lasted just 13 minutes as Kgatlana got herself onto the scoresheet, sprinting past the defenders and finding the bottom corner. Lineth Beerensteyn gave the Netherlands the lead again just five minutes later as he finished smartly with a volley.

Vivianne Miedema added a third in the 39th minute, shooting across Andile Dlamini. The ball hit the inside of the post and shot across the goal face before the ball nestled into the back of the net. Banyana were given the perfect chance to fight back when they were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute.

Noko Matlou stepped up to the spot after Kgatlana was brought down in the box. Matlou though failed to get any power onto the ball and saw her effort easily saved by Sari van Veenendaal. Kgatlana proved to be a real handful for the defenders and evaded a few tackles to get a shot away on 59 minutes.

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Banyana continued to produce a much better display in the second half as they looked like a much more compact side.

Sadly that was all undone when Damari Egurrola scored in the 76th minute to make it 4-1. The Netherlands side looked most likely to get the next goal of the game as they pressured the Banyana defence, hoping to get a fifth. Egurrola did eventually get the fifth in the 90th minute to give the Dutch side a 5-1 win.

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The memory of Bafana's embarrassing defeat against France is still in many South African football lovers' minds, but Banyana are hoping to make up for that, Sports Brief reported.

The South African Women's team are currently in Holland, as they take on the current European champions, the Netherlands in an international friendly tonight.

The two sides have only played each other seven times before, with the Dutch coming out victors on all occasions. In the last two encounters they beat Banyana 2-0 in 2016 and then 2-1 just three years later, SAFA confirmed.