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Thursday’s meeting between the United States and the Netherlands was billed as the decisive match of Group E at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, but clarity will have to wait a few more days. The USA and the Netherlands played out a draw in Wellington, New Zealand, in a first half dictated by the Dutch before Rose Lavelle entered the game and the Americans found their rhythm.
Jill Roord opened the scoring for the Netherlands in the 17th minute with a low strike from 17 yards out that went through the USA midfielder Lindsey Horan’s legs and into the far side netting. Lieke Martens broke through the USA midfield, evading a challenge from Andi Sullivan before hitting a ball wide to Victoria Pelova, who had two cracks at finding an open teammate. It was the first goal the USA have conceded in the group stage since the opening match of the 2015 World Cup and the first time they had trailed at a World Cup since the 2011 quarter-final.
From there, the Dutch controlled the half in possession, frequently hitting big, diagonal balls to Pelova, who had space on the right side as the USA defense collapsed. The Americans, meanwhile, struggled to string together passes in the final third, frequently settling for individual duels as the Dutch defense wobbled but did not break.
Lavelle’s entry into the match to start the second half – and the Netherlands’ half-time substitution at center-back to take off an injured Stefanie van der Gragt – changed the match. The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute, when Lavelle delivered the left-footed, in-swinging corner kick to the head of Horan for the equalizer.
