Lindsey Horan provided the emotional fire and the equalizer for the U.S. women’s national team in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the World Cup group stage.
The USWNT captain found herself knocked to the ground after a physical challenge from Danielle van de Donk, much the way her team found itself stunned by the Netherlands’ first-half lead. But Horan responded immediately, first getting into a verbal sparring match with van de Donk and then smashing in the equalizer with a header off a corner kick in the 62nd minute.
The Netherlands had grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the 17th minute, as Jill Roord put a shot past six USWNT defenders and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Before that goal, the USWNT had not trailed in a World Cup match since 2011.
Both teams had won their opening matches, with the USWNT posting a 3-0 scoreline against Vietnam and the Netherlands securing a defense-minded 1-0 win against Portugal. But the USWNT has recent history on its side heading into Wednesday’s match, with a 2-0 win against the Netherlands at the 2019 World Cup and a 3-2 win on penalty kicks in the 2021 Olympic quarterfinals.
So the battle for the top spot in Group E will come down to the third and final group-stage matches. The USWNT will face Portugal at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday, and the Netherlands will face Vietnam at the same time.
FINAL: USWNT 1, Netherlands 1
The USWNT trailed in a World Cup match for the first time since 2011 after an early Netherlands goal, but a Horan header saved the day.
Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins questioned the bench usage (or lack thereof) from USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The team’s inability to counter the 3-5-2 Dutch formation, particularly the packed midfield, also stood out as an area of concern.
67′: Offside call wipes out go-ahead goal for USWNT
Trinity Rodman found Alex Morgan streaking into the box, and then Morgan hammered her shot home. But the would-be go-ahead goal was ruled offside.
Alex Morgan finds the back of the net for what would have been the go ahead goal for the @USWNT, but is called back 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cnc2xrI3Cl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
62′: Lindsey Horan ties score for USWNT
The USWNT captain tangled with Lyon teammate Danielle van de Donk, who knocked Horan to the ground with a physical challenge — and then felt Horan’s wrath as soon as she found her feet. But Horan got the best revenge, scoring the equalizer with a header off a corner kick.
WHO ELSE BUT HORAN?!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
What a finish to level the score for the @USWNT 🎯🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/N9Tq3eiox1
D.C. GOING NUTS FOR THAT @USWNT GOAL BY @LINDSEYHORAN ‼️🇺🇸 #WorldCupWatchParty pic.twitter.com/LNmwBaoa98
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
51′: Rose Lavelle picks up quick yellow card on illegal tackle
Just five minutes after entering the match, the 28-year-old midfielder receives the first yellow card of the match for a slide against Jackie Groenen.
46′: Rose Lavelle replaces Savannah DeMelo
While Lavelle was cleared to start, she was utilized off the bench for the second consecutive match. She is recovering from a knee injury, and she played her first minutes since April as a substitute in the World Cup opener against Vietnam. She entered in the 61st minute against Vietnam, but the USWNT brought her on earlier here, perhaps to inject some energy into the midfield.
Aniek Nouwen replaced Stefanie van der Gragt for the Netherlands.
HALF: Netherlands 1, USWNT 0
Despite USWNT pressure early and late in the first half, the Netherlands dominated the middle minutes and the middle of the pitch.
The U.S. held a 9-2 advantage in shots. But for Just Women’s Sports writer Claire Watkins, the inability to capitalize on those chances almost could be considered a bigger indictment than not getting those chances at all — if the USWNT can’t get back into the game in the second half.
The Netherlands held USWNT captain Lindsey Horan limited to 22 touches in the first half, and the Fox cameras caught her throwing up her hands in the midfield.
“I want to see more fight, more urgency,” Fox Sports analyst and USWNT legend Carli Lloyd said of the first-half performance. “They started off the game really well, they were high pressing, but now you’re getting picked apart.”
36′: USWNT comes up empty despite two consecutive corners
The U.S. took two corner kicks in a row in the 35th and 36th minutes but did not score on either opportunity.
Fox Sports analyst and USWNT legend Carli Lloyd pointed out the team’s struggle to finish its chances against Vietnam, which she called a “worrying” trend under head coach Vlatko Andonovski. The USWNT finished its 3-0 win against Vietnam with 28 shots, seven of them on target.
29′: Netherlands sends shot just over crossbar
Dominique Janssen sends a shot inches over the crossbar. The ball lands in the top of the net, a warning to the USWNT of just how close the Netherlands came to extending the lead. The Dutch team has controlled 55% of possession since scoring the first goal.
Dominique Janssen's volley from outside the area doesn't miss by much 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/3LHPwjEbjZ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
17′: Netherlands takes 1-0 lead courtesy of Jill Roord
From the top of the box, Roord shot past six USWNT defenders and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to score the first goal of the match. While Trinity Rodman followed with a shot of her own almost immediately, goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar made the stop to preserve her team’s 1-0 lead.
Before this goal, the USWNT had not trailed in a World Cup match since 2011, holding opponents scoreless across a record 17-match stretch.
NETHERLANDS STRIKES FIRST 🇳🇱
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
Jill Roord fires it into the bottom corner of the net! pic.twitter.com/E3eWRb3GmL
6′: USWNT establishes early pressure
The speed up the left side of the field (particularly Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith) created early chances for the USWNT, including this ball that dribbled all the way to the Dutch goalkeeper. Alex Morgan just missed the chance to tap it into the net.
Crystal Dunn's ball rolls all the way to Daphne van Domselaar 👀 pic.twitter.com/gL6ph3zzna
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023
Starting XI: USWNT sticks with same lineup
- United States
- Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
- Defenders: Emily Fox, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma, Crystal Dunn
- Midfielders: Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Savannah DeMelo
- Forwards: Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman
- Netherlands
- Goalkeeper: Daphne van Domselaar
- Defenders: Stefanie van der Gragt, Dominique Janssen
- Midfielders: Jill Roord, Sherida Spitse, Danielle van de Donk, Jackie Groenen, Victoria Pelova
- Forwards: Katja Snoeijs, Lieke Martens, Esmee Brugts
The USWNT is sticking with the same starting lineup it used against Vietnam, which makes this the first time since 1999 that the team is repeating a lineup in consecutive group-stage matches. Four of the players also started against the Netherlands in the 2019 final: Naeher, Dunn, Ertz and Morgan.
Your XI in Wellington 🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/eP4SAPB0Qx
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 26, 2023
What to know about the Netherlands
- The Netherlands is two coaches removed from its 2019 run to the World Cup final. Sarina Wiegman, who led the team in 2019, now coaches for England, and her successor Mark Parsons exited after a disappointing Euros run in 2022. Andries Jonker is now at the helm.
- Star striker Vivianne Miedema is missing the World Cup due to an ACL tear, so other Dutch players will need to step up in her absence.
- Stefanie van der Gragt scored on a header to provide the lone goal in the team’s 1-0 win against Portugal. The Netherlands did not allow any shots to Portugal until the 82nd minute.
What to know about the USWNT
- USWNT legend and Fox Sports analyst Carli Lloyd underlined what she called a “worrying” trend for the team: the inability to finish their chances, especially under pressure.
- Sophia Smith scored a brace in the opening victory against Vietnam. Keep up with every USWNT goal from the World Cup.
When and how to watch
- Wednesday, July 26 — 9 p.m. ET (Fox, Peacock, Telemundo)
- United States vs. Netherlands (Wellington Regional)
The USWNT will play three group-stage matches at the World Cup, one against each of its opponents in Group E. After opening the tournament with a 3-0 win against Vietnam, the USWNT will face the Netherlands and then close the group stage against Portugal at 3 a.m. ET Tuesday.
The 2019 World Cup rematch against the Netherlands is available to watch on Fox and Telemundo. It also can be streamed on the Fox Sports app and on Peacock.
