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-Europe 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 in the opening 80 minutes.
This was a routine win with a routine goal: van der Gragt rising highest from veteran Sherida Spitse’s corner to power a header past wrongfooted goalkeeper Ines Pereira.
The Oranje were made to sweat a VAR referral, 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 too high.
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 ability 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.
The Dutch goalkeeper had little to do otherwise, which will surely change on their next outing.
The Oranje are next in action against two-time reigning champions USA on Thursday in Wellington in the standout group match fixture of the 2023 World Cup.
Portugal face Vietnam in a battle of the Group E minnows and two of the eight first-timers at the tournament: all of whom are struggling.
All six debutants to have played so far – Ireland, Philippines, Zambia, Vietnam, Haiti and now Portugal – have lost their matches without scoring.