Netherlands reach Women's World Cup final as Jackie Groenen extra-time strike sees off Sweden

The European champions will meet the reigning champions in Sunday's World Cup Final after the Netherlands beat Sweden 1-0 to set-up a clash with the USA.

New Manchester United signing Jackie Groenen lit up a dour game with a brilliant winner in extra-time to continue her country's remarkable trajectory.

The Orange Lionesses only qualified for a first World Cup four years ago but they have since won the European Championship on home soil and now reached the Final. They will meet the holders back here in Lyon on Sunday afternoon.

Sweden, meanwhile, suffered more semi-final heartbreak, with this defeat their third in four appearances at this stage. They are the first nation to beat Germany and fail to go on to win the tournament, and England now await in Saturday's third-place play-off in Nice.

The game finished on a troubling note, as Sweden's Kosovare Asllani was stretchered off in a head-brace after seeming to land awkwardly in the final minute of the 120.

After the drama and familiar heartache of England's defeat to the USA, this was a decidedly more low-key affair, which was scrappy and short on quality in the final third. The US, and indeed England, will have seen little to fear.

By the time, Groenen stuck a sweet 25-yard drive into the far corner, large swathes of the crowd in Lyon's Groupama Stadium had already seen enough, leaving a sea of empty seats around the pockets of die-hard supporters, clad all in yellow or orange.

The majority of the match was, at the very least, a fine advert for goalkeepers Sari van Veenendaal of the Netherlands and Sweden veteran Hedvig Lindahl, both of whom are looking for new clubs after being released by Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively.

The first half was particularly poor and the dearth of action was best summed-up by a Mexican wave – usually a sideshow saved for late in games – within 15 minutes from a 48,452-strong crowd, as the teams cancelled each other out.

Even Vivienne Miedema, who became her country's all-time leading scorer last week, was subdued. The Arsenal striker was robbed of a promising early opening by Chelsea's Magdalena Eriksson with a fine sliding challenge, setting the tone for game when the defences were firmly on top.

It was, in a sense, encouraging to see some committed defending after the carelessness of England and the US but there was a distinct lack of electricity going forward, until former Judo champion Groenen's moment of quality.

Sweden had started the game as underdogs but Dutch goalkeeper Van Veenendaal was the busier before half-time. The 29-year-old stood up to Stina Blackstenius' effort after the forward, who looked offside, was set-up by fine play from Sofia Jakobsson, and before the half was out, she had also denied Lina Hurtig with a sprawling save.

The entertainment could hardly get any worse – although FIFA tried, with the usual half-time light show and dance contest – but mercifully it improved after the interval as the two goalkeepers staged a save-of-the-tournament contest within minutes.

First, Van Veenendaal brilliantly palmed Nilla Fischer's low shot onto the far post following a half-cleared corner. It had looked a certain goal.

Not to be outdone, Lindahl made an acrobatic fingertip save of her own, brushing Miedema's header from a corner onto the crossbar. The Gunners forward was so stunned, she stood with her head in her hands for several seconds, even as play frantically continued around her.

The introduction of Dutch speedster Shanice van der Sanden for Beerensteyn marginally improved proceedings, with the Lyon winger whipping up the crowd after a promising counterattack. Van der Sanden thought she had won it with another late goal for the Dutch with a fierce angled drive in stoppage-time, only for Lindahl to casually extend a wrist.

As the game became more stretched in the final 10 minutes, it was fouls rather than openings that increased and many of the crowd surreptitiously made an exit when the referee blew for full-time.

Penalties looked by far the likeliest outcome until Groenen offered United supporters a glimpse of what they can expect in the WSL this season. The former Chelsea forward finally gave Lindahl no chance.

Sweden committed players forward in the second period of extra-time, and some more committed Dutch defending prevented an equaliser. There was still time for van der Sanden to fire a low effort wide. The Swedish impetus was somewhat halted by the injury to Asllani.

The Dutch's remarkable journey continues, while Sweden stand between England and other bronze medal.