Netherlands 3-2 Portugal: Danielle van de Donk settles five-goal thriller with stunning strike

Danielle van de Donk scored the winner as defending champions the Netherlands survived a huge scare to defeat Portugal and go top of Group C after an action-packed Euro 2022 encounter.

Having been held by Sweden in their opening game, the Dutch swept into a 2-0 lead without star player Vivianne Miedema, who was ruled out with Covid-19.

In a thriller at Leigh Sports Village, Portugal stunned their opponents by mounting an impressive comeback for a second successive match before Van de Donk settled it with a superb dipping, swerving effort.

Former Everton midfielder Damaris Egurrola had opened the scoring with a looping header, before Stefanie van der Gragt nodded in a second for the Netherlands.

Carole Costa reduced the deficit with a 38th-minute penalty that was awarded after a pitchside monitor check by the referee, before Diana Silva's header sparked scenes of jubilation among Portuguese supporters.

At 2-2, Jill Roord thought she had restored the Netherlands' advantage, but her effort was ruled out for an offside.

There was no denying former Arsenal midfielder Van de Donk's strike, though, as she sent her side top with one round of group matches to go.

"We are a good team and are trying to be a great team," said Netherlands boss Mark Parsons, who has not ruled out striker Miedema playing in the third and final group game on Sunday against Switzerland at Bramall Lane.

"Typical Viv. I had a text from her saying, 'I'm good, get me back and give me the test'."

Portugal had rallied from 2-0 down to earn a point against Switzerland in their previous game and threatened another impressive fightback through Costa's penalty.

It was awarded after the Croatian referee Ivana Martincic checked the monitor following Dominque Janssen's foul on Diana Silva.

At 0-0, Portugal's Ana Borges - winning a record 146th cap for her country - also had a goal ruled out for offside.

The Netherlands were not helped by injuries to their first-choice goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal and defender Aniek Nouwen, while Miedema and Jackie Groenen were absent with Covid.

But they got the job done to put themselves in a strong position to progress to the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands have four points from two games and top Group C from Sweden on goals scored

Dripping in drama

Leigh Sports Village was painted orange as Dutch fans outnumbered their Portuguese rivals.

This was the second of four Euro 2022 games at the home of Manchester United's WSL team and hundreds of supporters soaked up the sunshine in the town's civic square before the game.

The carnival atmosphere carried over into the stadium where the crowd were treated to a game dripping in drama from start to finish.

The venue is fast emerging as the place for goals and excitement at this tournament. Two games here have produced nine goals and fantastic entertainment.

The Netherlands will hope to have one or two of their absent players back against Switzerland at the weekend, while Portugal - in third place with one point - return to Leigh Sports Village to face Sweden, also on Sunday.

Both games kick-off at 17:00 BST.

Player of the match

van de DonkDaniëlle van de Donk

Netherlands

Squad number10Player namevan de Donk

Squad number21Player nameEgurrola

Squad number22Player nameBrugts

Squad number16Player namevan Domselaar

Squad number6Player nameRoord

Squad number18Player nameCasparij

Squad number8Player nameSpitse

Squad number12Player namePelova

Squad number3Player namevan der Gragt

Squad number11Player nameMartens

Squad number20Player nameJanssen

Squad number7Player nameBeerensteyn

Squad number5Player nameWilms

Squad number19Player nameOlislagers

Portugal

Squad number16Player nameDiana Silva

Squad number10Player nameJéssica Silva

Squad number1Player nameInês Pereira

Squad number19Player nameDiana Gomes

Squad number11Player nameTatiana Pinto

Squad number8Player nameAndreia Norton

Squad number2Player nameCatarina Amado

Squad number14Player nameDolores Silva

Squad number15Player nameCarole Costa

Squad number5Player nameJoana Marchão

Squad number20Player nameKika Nazareth

Squad number9Player nameAna Borges

Squad number7Player nameVanessa Marques

Squad number18Player nameCarolina Mendes

Squad number13Player nameFátima Pinto

Line-ups

Netherlands

Formation 4-2-3-1

16van Domselaar

5Wilms3van der Gragt20Janssen19Olislagers

8Spitse21Egurrola

10van de Donk6Roord11Martens

7Beerensteyn

16van Domselaar5Wilms3van der Gragt20JanssenBooked at 37mins19OlislagersSubstituted forCasparijat 62'minutes8Spitse21EgurrolaBooked at 39minsSubstituted forPelovaat 69'minutes10van de Donk6RoordBooked at 88mins11MartensSubstituted forBrugtsat 83'minutes7BeerensteynBooked at 54mins

Substitutes

1Weimar4van Dongen12Pelova13Jansen15Dijkstra17Leuchter18Casparij22Brugts23Lorsheyd

Portugal

Formation 4-3-1-2

1Teixeira Pereira

2Silva Amado19Ribeiro Gomes15da Silva Costa5Gaspar Silva Marchão

11Ferreira Pinto14Jácome da Silva8Norton

16Abreu de Sousa e Silva

9Marques Borges10Manjenje Nogueira Silva

1Teixeira PereiraBooked at 90mins2Silva AmadoBooked at 17mins19Ribeiro GomesBooked at 88mins15da Silva Costa5Gaspar Silva MarchãoSubstituted forRamos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousaat 66'minutes11Ferreira PintoSubstituted forMarques Malhoat 86'minutes14Jácome da SilvaSubstituted forFigueira Pintoat 65'minutes8Norton16Abreu de Sousa e SilvaSubstituted forTrindade Coruche Mendesat 86'minutes9Marques Borges10Manjenje Nogueira Silva

Substitutes

3de Figueiredo Lima Correia4Garcia Rebelo6Pires Cardozo7Marques Malho12Sousa Barros Morais13Figueira Pinto17Sousa Alves18Trindade Coruche Mendes20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa21Martins Faria22Campos Costa23Velosa Encarnação