Vivianne Miedema marked a historic milestone by scoring her 100th international goal for the Netherlands in their Euro 2025 qualifying match against Wales. The Dutch emerged victorious with a 3-0 win over the debutants at the Allmend Stadion in Lucerne.
Miedema's landmark goal arrived in the 45th minute, just before halftime, as she masterfully evaded her marker inside the box and curled a stunning strike into the top-right corner of the net. This was her 100th goal in 126 appearances for her country. She is the first player, male or female, to reach this milestone for the Netherlands. Miedema is only the sixth European and 19th woman overall to reach 100 international goals.
Wales, making their debut in a major women's tournament, demonstrated defensive resilience early in the game. Olivia Clark, the Welsh goalkeeper, was called into action within the first five minutes, making a crucial save from Jill Roord's effort. Wales showed promising attacking glimpses, but the Netherlands maintained the majority of possession.
The Netherlands extended their lead shortly after the restart. In the 48th minute, Victoria Pelova scored after a fine run and pass by Danielle van de Donk. Esmee Brugts then added a third goal, heading home a cross from Pelova. Jill Roord and Jackie Groenen each hit the crossbar for the Netherlands.
Miedema, who plays for Manchester City, has had an impressive international career. She opened her international account with a hat-trick against Portugal in October 2013. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she set a tournament record with 10 goals. She also holds the record for most goals in a single game for the Netherlands, scoring six against Cyprus in April 2022.
The Netherlands will face tough challenges against England and France in Group D. Wales will face France in St Gallen on Wednesday night.
Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson acknowledged the difficulty of the group, which includes England and France, but expressed determination to showcase Wales on the international stage. Despite the loss, the historic day marked a significant moment for Welsh football, with approximately 4,000 Welsh fans in attendance.
