Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023: Stefanie van der Gragt’s first-half header gets Netherlands off to winning start in Group E clash against Portugal

Netherlands' Stefanie Van der Gragt, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring. Photo / AP

Stefanie van der Gragt scored on a header in the 13th minute, leading the Netherlands to a 1-0 win over Portugal at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday as the 2019 finalists began their tournament run.

The Dutch defender gathered herself as teammate Sherida Spitse lofted a corner kick her way, then headed the ball across the goal into the far side of the net.

An offside review delayed the celebration.

The goal by the 30-year-old van der Gragt, who plans to retire after the Women’s World Cup, was the quickest first goal of the tournament.

The Dutch controlled the tempo of the game — Portugal’s first shot of the match didn’t come until the 82nd minute.

The meeting with the Netherlands, ranked No. 9 in the world, marked Portugal’s first-ever tournament appearance.

On hand were 11,991 spectators, who were sheltered from the rain inside Dunedin’s covered Forsyth Barr Stadium, known as the Glasshouse, which has a capacity of 25,947.

Though most of the crowd appeared to be Dutch fans, a small but mighty group of Portuguese supporters with flags and team apparel banged on drums throughout the game, the beat echoing across the venue.

Key moments

Van der Gragt’s first-half goal gave the Dutch a lead and allowed them to play lockdown defense. Both teams played a physical game, but Portugal was unable to match the Netherlands’ technical mastery.

Why it matters

The Dutch victory raises the stakes for their upcoming rematch with two-time defending world champion United States, which defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in that 2019 final.

A winner in that match will gain control of Group E and could very well wrap up a berth in the knockout stage. Portugal failed to break through and become the first of the eight newcomers in the Women’s World Cup to get a win.

What’s next

Netherlands heads to the Group E showdown against the USA on Thursday in Wellington. Portugal faces Vietnam, which didn’t get a single shot on goal in its 3-0 loss to the Americans, also on Thursday.

That match is in Hamilton, with the loser likely out of contention for the round of 16.

The Netherlands returns to the Women’s World Cup looking to go just one spot further than 2019, when the Dutch lost to the United States in the final.

The quest begins Sunday in a Group E match against Portugal in Dunedin. The Dutch beat Portugal 3-2 in the group stages of last summer’s Women’s UEFA European Championship, and Portugal has lost seven of its previous eight games — including five straight — against the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is without star player and all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema, who ruptured her ACL playing for Arsenal in December.

Portugal is one of eight teams making its tournament debut and has played in only two previous women’s international tournaments — the European Championships in 2017 and 2022. Portugal was knocked out in the group stage in both tournaments.

But the focus ahead of this match has been the training conditions in New Zealand, and both teams have complained that the facilities have been inadequate. Portugal coach Francisco Neto said his squad could not practice on its assigned field Friday because heavy rain had made the playing surface inadequate.

The Netherlands has complained that its practice field in Tauranga is designed for cricket and too hard for soccer.

Neto said neither team can use it as an excuse in Sunday’s game.

“It is what it is, and we need to adjust,” he said. “Everyone has some problems with that. When we come here we don’t have many choice of pitches. All the teams and coaches want the same for their teams. We have problems with that too, not just the Netherlands.”