Emily Fox (L) of the United States competes during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
WELLINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A rematch between the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists ended 1-1 here on Thursday, as Lindsey Horan's header canceled out the Netherlands' opener in a highly-anticipated Group E game.
This is the second time the U.S. and the Netherlands have faced off at the World Cup, and the first since the 2019 World Cup final in France, which saw goals from Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe gift the U.S. a 2-0 victory.
The matchup also marked the first time in Women's World Cup history that the two finalists from the previous tournament met in the group stage.
The U.S. were unbeaten in a record 18 successive matches in the finals (excluding penalty shootouts) before Thursday's game, winning each of the last 13. The four-time champions started their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam, while the Netherlands squeezed past Portugal 1-0.
Sophia Smith, who scored two and set up another in the Vietnam match, started in a three-forward line spearheaded by Alex Morgan, while Jill Roord took the field for the Netherlands.
The U.S. were aggressive from the start, but they found themselves on the back foot when Lieke Martens dribbled forward through the middle and spread the play down the right, and Victoria Pelova assisted Roord to drill home.
The defending champions responded quickly afterward as Trinity Rodman's stunner was parried away by Daphne Van Domselaar, while at the other end, Dominique Janssen blasted over the bar.
The U.S. dominated the second half and found the equalizer in the 62nd minute when Lavelle's corner found Horan, who beat Van Domselaar with a twisting header.
The Netherlands could hardly string together a run of play, and the U.S. started to besiege the goal, but Morgan's goal was ruled offside before Smith's attempt was cleared off the line.
The U.S. meets Portugal next Tuesday, while the Netherlands takes on Vietnam. ■
Lindsey Horanand of the United States celebrates scoring during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Naomi Girma (R) of the United States vies with Savannah Demelo of the Netherlands during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Players of the United States line up for a team photo before the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Jill Roord (front) of the Netherlands vies with Sophia Smith of the United States during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Julie Ertz (L) of the United States vies with Katja Snoeijs of the Netherlands during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Players of the Netherlands line up for a team photo before the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Players of the United States celebrate scoring during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Naomi Girma (L) of the United States competes during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Jill Roord (R) of the Netherlands vies with Lindsey Horan of the United States during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Fans of the United States are seen before the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Players of the United States celebrate scoring during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Lindsey Horan (C) of the United States vies with Damaris Egurrola (L) of the Netherlands during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Victoria Pelova (L) of the Netherlands competes during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Vlatko Andonovski, head coach of the United States, reacts during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Sophia Smith (R) of the United States vies with Victoria Pelova of the Netherlands during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Sophia Smith (C) of the United States competes during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Danielle Van De Donk (Front) of the Netherlands controls the ball during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar (Top) of the Netherlands makes a save during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
Lindsey Horan (R) of the United States vies with Damaris Egurrola of the Netherlands during the group E match between the United States and the Netherlands at the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)
