The defending European champions the Netherlands are back on track in Euros after a narrow win over Portugal sent them top of Group C.
Danielle van de Donk’s superb strike gave the Netherlands a 3-2 win over Portugal that ensures their passage into the next round after drawing their opening game.
The Dutch looked to be on course for a comfortable win after Damaris Egurrola gave them the lead with a fine-angled header from a corner in the seventh minute before Stefanie van der Gragt headed in the second nine minutes later.
But Portugal, who had fought back from going down twice for a 2-2 draw in their opening game of the Euros against Switzerland, again showed their resilience against the Netherlands.
Carole Costa pulled a goal back from the spot, seven minutes before the break, after a VAR review decided that Diana Silva had been brought down by Dominique Janssen and the Portuguese drew level two minutes after the interval with Silva heading home a fine cross from Costa.
The Dutch thought they had immediately restored their lead through Jill Roord but her effort was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR review.
There was no question about Van de Donk’s goal though as the midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a curling effort into the far corner to put the Netherlands 3-2 up.
The win leaves the Dutch on four points from two games, level on points with Sweden, with Portugal and Switzerland both on a point each.
Sweden beat Switzerland 2-1 earlier in the day thanks to a winner from 19-year-old Hanna Bennison after coming off the bench.
Switzerland’s Ramona Bachmann had earlier canceled out Fridolina Rolfo’s opener for the Swedes.
