A goal in each half helped the Netherlands punch a ticket to the Quarter Finals of the World Cup, overcoming a strong and lively looking South Africa.

Goals from Jill Roord and Lineth Beerensteyn helped seal the deal for the Oranje Machine, but against Spain they will be without Danielle Van De Donk, who picked up a yellow card in this real slobberknocker of a tie.

Thembi Kgatlana was a real threat all game, the South African causing Daphne van Domselaar worry in the Dutch goal, they deserved a goal, especially causing the Dutch more worry in a half, than their entire group stage.

But they march on, the business end really starts now, the final eight, the Netherlands meet Spain, Van De Donk has been such a pivotal player, how much of a loss will she be for them in such a crucial game.

A game dominated by possession early on, came to life when South Africa had the first shot of the tie, Thembi Kgatlana racing through the middle of the defence, however her effort lacked power and was straight at Daphne van Domselaar.

The Dutch hit back however, Danielle Van De Donk tried to create something and won the first corner of the game, but it was cleared, Esmee Brugts then tried another highlight reel goal, cutting in from the left wing she curled an audacious right footed effort that Kaylin Swart tipped over the bar in the South Africa goal.

The opener arrived from the resulting corner, Lieke Martens connected with a near post header that was half-cleared off the line into the air, Jill Roord reacted quickest and with the ball floating in the air, headed home from close range to an empty goal.

One almost became two on the half hour mark as van de Donk tried her luck with a quick turning effort at goal, Swart made a fine save with her legs however to keep it at 1-0. However Jermaine Seoposenwe did take a knock earlier on, she was struggling to play on but did so, until having no other choice to be taken off, it looked like they had ten players on the field with her injured.

Turning over a Dutch attack with Lieke Martens in possession looking to find an opening, South Africa sent the ball down the field, where the ever dangerous Kgatlana was proving an absolute handful, she raced down the left wing, cut in for her right boot and shot low where van Domselaar tipped behind at her near post.

In the 37th minute, Brugts tried another curling effort to double the Oranje Machine's lead, but Swart was well able to deal with the threat, having got her body behind to make the save.

Stoppage time amounted to seven minutes and for South Africa they were dangerous and never wanted them to end, Kgatlana was one on one with van Domselaar, the Netherlands keeper made a great save then won a free kick after she got a kick for her troubles being brave while jumping on the rebound.

Minutes later she was called into action again, two quick efforts seeing her face six shots in the opening half, more than the Oranje Machine had faced during the group stages, again it was Kgatlana, this time denied by the keeper's legs from a tight angle, before a long range rebound from Wendy Shongwe was another test than the Dutch keeper was equal to.

Into the second half and again the Netherlands showed their quality in possession and how to dictate the play, almost grabbing a second goal from a corner in the 50th minute, Sherida Spitse delivered to the near post, Lieke Martens got a flick on to it but Lineth Beerensteyn headed just over.

Martens finished off a killer move to make it 2-0 after 54 minutes, Lineth Beerensteyn cutting into the area, passing to Victoria Pelova, who found Martens yards from goal and she made no mistake with a terrific finish, the goal however would not stand, Pelova deemed offside in the build up prior to making the pass, the goal disallowed.

The headache in the first half Kgatlana needed 20 minutes to elapse in the second half before getting her first chance to run at the Dutch defence this half, but was denied by an excellent tackle from Sherida Spitse.

In the blink of an eye as Kgatlana tried her luck at one end, down at the other it was 2-0, Lineth Beerensteyn with a snap shot from the edge of the area, it looked to be straight at the South African keeper, however Swart had an absolute nightmare, the ball squeezing through her arms and spun over the line, a cruel moment of fate to double the Netherlands advantage.

They pressed on being two to the good they could rubber stamp a place in the next round, almost looked signed, sealed and delivered when, Beerensteyn raced onto an over the top through ball, putting her one on one with Swart, she did well to hold the ball and then round the keeper and finish to the net, the flag that was down initially but was raised shortly after the ball rippled the net.