VALENCIA, Spain, March 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Nations League holders Spain
reached the final four with a 5-4 win on penalties against the Netherlands,
after a thrilling 3-3 quarter-final second leg draw on Sunday had left the
tie 5-5 on aggregate.

Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona's Pedri slotted home to settle a gripping
match in which the Netherlands came from behind three times to force the
shoot-out.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain but Memphis Depay levelled from
the penalty spot.

Oyarzabal grabbed Spain's second before Ian Maatsen rifled home to force
extra-time.

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal, who also missed a penalty in the shoot-out,
scored a brilliant goal to put Spain ahead but Xavi Simons netted another
spot-kick to force penalties.

"It's so nice to wear this shirt and to be able to score this goal," Pedri
told TVE, with his side facing France in the semi-finals.

"We're Spain and we don't have to fear anyone," added Pedri.

After Spain's struggles in Rotterdam on Thursday in the 2-2 first-leg draw,
coach Luis de la Fuente made a handful of changes.

Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo came in for Alvaro Morata and Pedri, while Dean
Huijsen made his first start, against the country of his birth, and excelled.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman brought in debutant Maatsen at left-back,
giving him the unenviable challenge of shackling 17-year-old prodigy Yamal at
Valencia's sold-out Mestalla stadium.

Spain's success in recent years has inspired their supporters and over 20,000
watched them train ahead of the second leg, which also served as a fundraiser
for damage caused by the devastating storms which hit the Valencia region
last October.

They won a penalty early on when Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily brought down
Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for La Roja in the Euro 2024 final
last summer.

The Real Sociedad forward took it himself, smashing into the bottom right
corner, past Bart Verbruggen's dive.

Oyarzabal had a goal ruled out for offside and the Brighton goalkeeper denied
Nico Williams with a superb stop.

Bournemouth centre-back Huijsen, 19, was jeered by the travelling Dutch fans,
upset he did not choose to play for them, but Spain supporters backed him in
response and he shone.

- 'Lottery of penalties' -

Koeman's side levelled after 54 minutes with a penalty of their own when
Depay, on his 100th Oranje appearance, threw himself to the ground after
tussling with Robin Le Normand.

Despite the hosts' protests the contentious decision stood and Depay blasted
home from the spot.

Spain's dynamic wingers helped restore their lead with a razor-sharp counter-
attack.

Yamal released Williams, who drove into the box and slipped the ball to
Oyarzabal. Although Verbruggen saved his attempted dink, the Spaniard headed
home the rebound.

Netherlands responded swiftly, capitalising when Olmo gave the ball away
inside his area.

Substitute Simons slipped a clever pass to Maatsen on the left and the Aston
Villa defender brilliantly rifled into the top corner to force extra-time.

De la Fuente sent on Pedri and Arsenal's Mikel Merino, who salvaged Spain a
draw in the first leg, and his team took the lead after 103 minutes.

Huijsen lofted the ball into Yamal's path and the winger controlled it on the
run and beat Maatsen before pulling off an exquisite finish.

The Dutch battled back again, with Simons winning and converting a penalty in
the 109th minute after he was felled by goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Both sides netted their first three penalties in the shoot-out, before
Netherlands' Noa Lang hit the crossbar and Verbruggen saved a tame Yamal
effort.

In sudden death Simon saved low from Malen and Pedri coolly sent Spain
through to the final four for a repeat of their Euros semi-final against
France.

"It was a very hard game, we did the best we could and then it came down to
the lottery of penalties," Simons told TVE.

"I'm happy with the assist and the goal but it's bittersweet as we didn't
win."