Stefanie van der Gragt’s first-half goal gave the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Fifa Women’s World Cup debutants Portugal in Dunedin.
Van der Gragt’s powerful header was ruled out by referee Kateryna Monzul before the video assistant referee encouraged her to review her decision.
Portugal failed to trouble the Netherlands defence, registering their only shot on target in the 82nd minute.
The win moved the Netherlands second in Group E, below reigning world champions USA on goal difference.
Despite coming under pressure from a high-pressing Portugal early on, it was the Netherlands with the first opportunity as Lineth Beerensteyn’s sliding strike was deflected off the boot of Carole Costa and out for a corner.
That corner proved to be the game’s decisive moment as it was whipped in by Netherlands captain Sherida Spitse to the back post, where Van der Gragt towered over Tatiana Pinto to head the ball down across goal and into the bottom right-hand corner.
The Netherlands’ celebrations were cut short by the whistle of Monzul, who thought Jill Roord had interfered with Portugal goalkeeper Ines Pereira before reversing her decision when she reviewed the replay on the pitch-side monitor.
Roord nearly put away another Spitse corner with an unchallenged header from close range, but she directed it over the crossbar.
While the Netherlands dominated possession and continued to look dangerous from set-pieces, Portugal, despite glimmers of promise from Jessica Silva, offered very little in front of goal.
Danielle van de Donk and Beerensteyn forced saves from Pereira early in the second half before Portugal increased their intensity and pushed further into the final third.
However, Francisco Neto’s side could not manufacture any clear chances until Telma Encarnacao cut inside from the right and fired straight at goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar late on.
Player of the match
GroenenJackie Groenen
Netherlands
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Squad number14Player nameGroenenAverage rating
8.19
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Squad number3Player namevan der GragtAverage rating
7.43
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Squad number10Player namevan de Donk
Average rating7.23
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Squad number21Player nameEgurrola
Average rating7.15
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Squad number9Player nameSnoeijs
Average rating7.13
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Squad number17Player namePelova
Average rating7.12
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Squad number11Player nameMartens
Average rating7.05
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Squad number20Player nameJanssen
Average rating6.95
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Squad number7Player nameBeerensteyn
Average rating6.95
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Squad number8Player nameSpitse
Average rating6.90
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Squad number1Player namevan Domselaar
Average rating6.72
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Squad number22Player nameBrugts
Average rating6.59
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Squad number6Player nameRoord
Average rating6.58
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Squad number18Player nameCasparij
Average rating6.30
Portugal
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Squad number10Player nameJéssica Silva
Average rating6.86
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Squad number2Player nameCatarina Amado
Average rating6.15
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Squad number19Player nameDiana Gomes
Average rating6.08
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Squad number13Player nameFátima Pinto
Average rating6.08
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Squad number15Player nameCarole Costa
Average rating6.08
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Squad number16Player nameDiana Silva
Average rating6.00
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Squad number14Player nameDolores Silva
Average rating5.75
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Squad number11Player nameTatiana Pinto
Average rating5.69
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Squad number8Player nameAndreia Norton
Average rating5.58
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Squad number23Player nameTelma Encarnação
Average rating5.46
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Squad number1Player nameInês Pereira
Average rating5.38
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Squad number9Player nameAna Borges
Average rating5.29
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Squad number6Player nameAndreia Jacinto
Average rating5.25
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Squad number3Player nameLúcia Alves
Average rating5.17
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Squad number20Player nameKika Nazareth
Average rating5.08
Line-ups
Netherlands
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 1van Domselaar
- 8Spitse
- 3van der Gragt
- 20Janssen
- 14Groenen
- 17PelovaSubstituted forCasparijat 90+4′minutes
- 6Roord
- 10van de DonkBooked at 78minsSubstituted forEgurrolaat 80′minutes
- 22Brugts
- 7BeerensteynSubstituted forSnoeijsat 87′minutes
- 11Martens
Substitutes
- 2Wilms
- 4Nouwen
- 5van Dongen
- 9Snoeijs
- 12Baijings
- 13Jansen
- 15Dijkstra
- 16Kop
- 18Casparij
- 19Kaptein
- 21Egurrola
- 23Weimar
Portugal
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Teixeira Pereira
- 9Marques Borges
- 15da Silva Costa
- 19Ribeiro GomesBooked at 84mins
- 2Silva AmadoSubstituted forde Sousa Alvesat 78′minutes
- 11Ferreira Pinto
- 14Jácome da SilvaSubstituted forRamos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousaat 68′minutes
- 8NortonSubstituted forde Jesus Jacintoat 79′minutes
- 13Figueira Pinto
- 10Manjenje Nogueira SilvaBooked at 56mins
- 16Abreu de Sousa e SilvaSubstituted forVelosa Encarnaçãoat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 3de Sousa Alves
- 4Garcia Rebelo
- 5Gaspar Silva Marchão
- 6de Jesus Jacinto
- 7Santos Marques Rodrigues
- 12de Sousa Barros Morais
- 17da Silva Seiça
- 18Trindade Coruche Mendes
- 20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
- 21Palma Capeta
- 22Campos Costa
- 23Velosa Encarnação
- Referee:
- Kateryna Monzul
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Netherlands 1, Portugal Women 0.
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Second Half ends, Netherlands 1, Portugal Women 0.
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Esmee Brugts (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tatiana Pinto (Portugal Women).
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Attempt missed. Lieke Martens (Netherlands) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Sherida Spitse with a cross.
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Substitution, Netherlands. Kerstin Casparij replaces Victoria Pelova.
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Corner, Netherlands. Conceded by Lúcia Alves.
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Foul by Victoria Pelova (Netherlands).
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Lúcia Alves (Portugal Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Esmee Brugts (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tatiana Pinto (Portugal Women).
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Offside, Netherlands. Damaris Egurrola tries a through ball, but Victoria Pelova is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Lieke Martens (Netherlands) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Esmee Brugts.
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Substitution, Netherlands. Katja Snoeijs replaces Lineth Beerensteyn because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Lineth Beerensteyn (Netherlands).
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Diana Gomes (Portugal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Lineth Beerensteyn (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Diana Gomes (Portugal Women).
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Attempt missed. Fátima Pinto (Portugal Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.