At Dunedin Stadium on Sunday, Stefanie Van der Gragt’s first-half goal—awarded after a VAR review—gave the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Portugal, who were competing in their first Women’s World Cup.
Last year, the Dutch defeated Portugal 3-2 in the group stage of the European Championship, but this time, the Iberian side was no match for the team wearing their distinctive orange, and they did not have a shot on goal until the 82nd minute.
Van der Gragt leapt above the defence at the far post to head in the Dutch goal in the 13th minute from a corner kick, but the flag was raised for offside because Jill Roord was deemed to be blocking the custodian by the lineswoman.
The goal stood, but the offside call for interfering with play was reversed by the referee after she watched a replay on the monitor during a VAR review, leading to a second celebration from the Dutch squad.
Minutes later, Roord got a free header in the six-yard box and was poised to make it 2-0, but Portugal was given a chance when an open midfielder headed over the crossbar.
Portuguese players, on the other hand, were unable to manage a shot on goal during the opening period while simultaneously repelling waves of Dutch attempts.
The same thing happened in the second half when Portuguese custodian Ines Pereira made a fantastic reaction save to keep Danielle van De Donk from scoring after some deft passing had set up the midfielder.
The finest opportunity for Portugal came in the 82nd minute when Telma Encarnacao, a substitute, sprinted down the right side and cut in to shoot, but Dutch custodian Daphne van Domselaar was up to the challenge and parried her shot.
Prior to Thursday’s dramatic match, a rematch of the 2019 final in which the Americans won their fourth World Cup title, the Netherlands tie the United States for first place in the group with three points but trail on goal differential.
