Nations League: Spain Advances to Semifinals After Penalty Shootout Victory Over Netherlands

In two full matches and two extra times, Spain and Netherlands couldn't determine the winner, each scoring five goals in total. In the second leg, Spain managed to take the lead three times, only for Ronald Koeman's side to respond and level the score every time.

The penalty shootout at the Estadio Mestalla in Valencia wasn’t as long as the one in Paris, but it had its own defining moment. The unfortunate hero of the shootout was Daniel Mallén of Aston Villa, who missed the decisive penalty, which ultimately handed Spain the victory and a place in the UEFA Nations League semifinals.

Nations League 2024-2025

Spain - Netherlands 3:3 (1:0), shoot-out 5:4
Goals: Oyarzabal, 8 (penalty) (1:0); Depay, 54 (penalty) (1:1); Oyarzabal, 67 (2:1); Maatsen I., 79 (2:2); Yamal, 103 (3:2); Simons Xavi, 109 (penalty) (3:3)

Spain: Simón U.; Mingueza (Porro, 94); Le Normand; Huijsen; Cucurella; Olmo (Pedri, 84); Zubimendi (Aleix Garcia, 106); Fabian Ruiz (Merino, 84); Oyarzabal (Torres F., 69); Yamal; Nico Williams (Álex Baena, 117)
Bench: Raya; Remiro; Grimaldo; Asencio R.; Aghehowa; Morata
Yellow Cards: Le Normand 53; Simón U. 108

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Maatsen I.; van Dijk; van Hecke; Geertruida (Malen, 78); Frimpong J.; de Jong F. (Taylor Ke., 106); Reijnders (Koopmeiners T., 110); Depay (Brobbey, 101); Kluivert (Simons Xavi, 78); Gakpo (Lang N., 78)
Bench: Olij; Flekken; de Ligt; Baas Y.; Wieffer
Yellow Cards: Depay 60