Renate Jansen struck a 90th minute winner as Netherlands beat England 2-1 in Utrecht to blow the battle to top League A1 wide open.
Substitute, Jansen pounced upon Lieke Martens’ 90th minute through ball to smash in a late winner for the Dutch to ignite their challenge to top League A1.
Martens had earlier put the Netherlands ahead with a controversial 34th minute curled strike only for Alessia Russo to pull England level in the 64th minute.
The result meant that Netherlands moved into second in the group ahead of England who dropped to third.
Having smashed the Netherlands just 14 months ago in an UEFA Euro 2022 warm-up friendly at Elland Road, Leeds, England arrived in Utrecht anticipating a tougher test from the World Cup Quarter-Finalists, which was what they duly received in the opening minutes.
Netherlands dominated the opening ten minutes with no real chances of note aside from Dominique Janssen’s tame third minute shot, which Mary Earps comfortably saved.
Neither team struggled to make much headway in the opening half hour although the Netherlands came closest in the 21st minute, as Jill Roord’s low shot was saved by Earps.
England’s shaky defence which had kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches eventually came unstuck in the 34th minute, as Georgia Stanway’s clearance was deflected to van de Donk who laid it off for Martens to curl into the top right corner.
Van de Donk however looked offside during her decisive pass to Martens but the goal stood due to no VAR being in use in Utrecht.
England almost restored parity seven minutes later as Lauren Hemp whipped in a cross which Alessia Russo flicked forward for Daly to volley in on her right foot, but last season’s WSL top-goalscorer could only rattle the left post.
Van Domselaar then made a double save in the 43rd minute to deny Hemp then Lucy Bronze’s follow-up shot.
Those three missed chances were almost punished up the other end in the 44th minute as Lineth Beerensteyn broke forward on the counter-attack, yet the 26 year-old could only curl her shot onto the crossbar rather than top right corner.
Netherlands nevertheless finished the first half with a one-goal lead over their ex manager, Sarina Wiegman and her Lionesses.
Wiegman consequently responded at half-time with a change as Daly was substituted for Chloe Kelly which led to an improved start to the second half, as Kelly whipped in a 57th minute cross towards Hemp whose shot was saved by Van Domselaar.
The pair combined four minutes later with a similar end result but Toone fired over on the rebound via deflection.
Van de Donk gifted Russo possession in the 62nd minute but Caitlin Dijkstra made a crucial block to deny the Arsenal forward.
Russo however didn’t waste her next chance two minutes later as Kelly played a short slip-through ball for Toone, but the Manchester United midfielder saw her shot deflected for Russo to flick in from close range to pull England level.
Netherlands almost hit back a minute later to retake the lead through Pelova’s low shot towards the bottom right corner, yet Earps made a crucial save.
England’s improved pressure almost told in the 69th minute as Hemp’s shot was deflected out to Kelly who laid the ball off for Stanway, yet Van Domselaar comfortably saved the Bayern Munich midfielder’s shot.
Neither team looked likely to find a winning goal until substitute, Jansen pounced upon Martens’ 90th minute through ball and rifled high into the top right corner to clinch the win for the Dutch.
The result marked only England’s third defeat under Wiegman as they fell to third in the group behind Belgium and Netherlands.
Speaking post-match to ITV4, England captain, Millie Bright praised Netherlands for their clinical end product, as she explained: “It’s hard because there were some really good parts of the game where we really dominated.
“I thought they were ruthless when they had their opportunities and to be honest we gifted them two goals.
“When you concede in that manner, that’s the most disappointing thing especially when games like this really matter.”
What’s Next?
Netherlands face a double-header against Scotland beginning with a home clash on 27 October prior to a trip to Glasgow on 31 October, with both matches kicking off at 7:45pm UK Time.
England will meet Belgium in their double-header on the same dates next month, beginning with a home clash against the Belgian Red Devils at Leicester’s King Power Stadium (7:45pm BST) on 27 October, followed by the return leg in Leuven on 31 October at 8:30pm CET (7:30pm UK Time).
Teams
Netherlands: Daphne van Domselaar, Victoria Pelova (Kaptein 77′), Caitlin Dijkstra, Dominique Janssen, Esmee Brugts (Wilms 77′), Jackie Groenen (Egurrola 84′) , Sherida Spitse, Danielle van de Donk, Lineth Beerensteyn (Jansen 84′), Jill Roord, Lieke Martens
Substitutes: Lynn Wilms, Marit Auee, Marisa Olislagers, Jill Baijings, Renate Jansen, Fenna Kalma, Barbara Lorsheyd, Wieke Kaptein, Damaris Egurrola, Danielle De Jong
England: Mary Earps, Jess Carter, Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood, Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Katie Zelem, Ella Toone, Rachel Daly (Kelly 45′), Alessia Russo (James 81′), Lauren Hemp
Substitutes: Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, Esme Morgan, Niamh Charles, Laura Coombs, Lucy Parker, Jess Park, Maya Le Tissier, Ellie Roebuck, Katie Robinson, Lucy Staniforth
Referee: Ivana Martincic (Croatia)
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