Netherlands eke out 1-0 World Cup win over Portugal

The Netherlands have tuned up for a rematch of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final with a 1-0 defeat of Portugal in Dunedin.

Retiring defender Stefanie van der Gragt earned the Dutch victory on Sunday night with a 13th minute header in the all-European affair.

Under the roof in Dunedin, the Netherlands laboured to a tight defeat of the World Cup first-timers.

Portugal didn’t have a shot, or touch the ball in the Dutch box throughout the first 80 minutes.

This was a routine win with a routine goal, with van der Gragt rising highest from veteran Sherida Spitse’s corner to power a header past wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

“Today’s game gives me a little goosebumps. Because I’m a match winner and everyone in the team has fought,” the 30-year-old van der Gragt said.

“These are very important points. We said in advance that the first game is super important.”

The Oranje were made to sweat a VAR referral for the goal which eventually cleared midfielder Jill Roord of interference on the goal line.

Roord should had added a second on 24 minutes when she was left alone at another Spitse corner, only to head over.

Diana Silva was laid out by van der Gragt inside 15 seconds of the second half in a brutal though unintended challenge.

Her strike partner Jessica Silva then saw yellow, lashing out after the Netherlands blocked her passage.

At the other end, Lineth Beerensteyn’s dangerous shot was saved by Pereira.

Danielle van de Donk was frustrated with her side’s inability to penetrate, earning her own yellow for pulling back Catarina Amado before being substituted.

A fresh injection of talent woke Portugal from their slumber, with substitute Telma Encarnacao cutting inside and drawing a save from Daphne van Domselaar.

While the Dutch goalkeeper had little to do otherwise, Portugal coach Francisco Neto believed his side put in a fine shift.

“In the second half we managed to dominate Netherlands,” he said.

“What (my team) did today was of utmost courage, utmost charcacter, to play against the runners-up, the vice champions of the world.”

The Oranje are next in action against two-time reigning champions USA on Thursday in Wellington in the stand-out group match of the tournament.

Portugal face Vietnam in a battle of the Group E minnows and two of the eight first-timers at the tournament.

All six debutants to have played so far – Ireland, Philippines, Zambia, Vietnam, Haiti and now Portugal – have lost their matches without scoring.