It was a return to familiar surroundings for Sarina Wiegman, but one that ended with an unfamiliar outcome. After all, England had lost just once in their last 31 competitive games under the Dutchwoman.
But there was no fairytale homecoming for Wiegman as the Lionesses slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Netherlands. Not the result Wiegman had been dreaming of.
In fact, England’s first-half performance was something of nightmares. It was one-way traffic in the opening stages and the hosts took a deserved lead through Lieke Martens.
While it was an excellent finish from Martens, replays showed that Danielle van de Donk was clearly off-side in the build-up. With no VAR in operation, the goal stood.
England improved after the break and drew level through Alessia Russo’s well-taken strike.
Renate Jansen’s late goal meant there was no fairytale homecoming for Sarina Wiegman
Jansen’s superb strike sparked wild celebrations from the Dutch players as they won 2-1
The Lionesses looked to be heading for a draw after Alessia Russo’s 64th minute equaliser
But goals from Lieke Martens (right) and Jansen were enough to give the Netherlands the win
But they looked vulnerable on the break and were made to pay for failing to tighten things up when substitute Renate Jansen raced through on goal and fired past Mary Earps to secure all three points.
It was nothing less than her side deserved and even more impressive given they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat to Belgium in their Nations League opener last week.
England narrowly won their first game against Scotland but continued with a similar disjointed display in Utrecht that they had finished with in Sunderland.
They allowed the Netherlands to grow in confidence from the off. Some clever one and two-touch play left England chasing shadows.
Cries of ‘Get hold of it’ were loud and clear from the Lionesses players when Lauren Hemp failed to bring a quick free-kick under control. In truth, that directive could have been directed at any of England’s midfield or attacking players in the first-half.
You could see the opener coming from a mile off and it was England’s profligacy which led to it.
First, Millie Bright dawdled on the ball in her own box and saw her deflected pass fall fortuitously to Georgia Stanway.
But Stanway replicated her captain’s mistake, seeing her pass closed down and falling into the path of Van de Donk. She laid the ball off to Martens and although it looked as though the chance had passed, Martens managed to bend the ball brilliantly into the top corner past Mary Earps.
Martens celebrates with her Netherlands team-mates after curling in the opening goal
The Lionesses got themselves back into the match after Russo pulled Wiegman’s side level
With no technology on-hand to help referee Ivana Martincic see that Van de Donk was clearly in an off-side position when she received the ball, the goal stood.
Daphne van Domselaar had been a bystander for most of the first-half but was forced into a smart double-save, first from Lauren Hemp and then from Ella Toone.
At the other end and on the stroke of half time, Lineth Beerensteyn was the width of the woodwork away from doubling the Netherlands’ lead. She showed great strength to hold off Jess Carter before seeing her effort deflected onto the bar.
Wiegman’s tactical switch to a back four at the break gave England some stability in the second-half. Substitute Chloe Kelly found herself straight in on the action, laying it on a plate for Hemp, who was bravely denied at point-blank range by Van Domselaar. Then Hemp nearly turned provider as first Alessia Russo and then Kelly were denied in quick succession by the hosts.
The Netherlands pulled up a surprise with Jansen’s stunning late strike ensuring the victory
It was a disappointing return to the Netherlands for England’s Dutch manager Wiegman (left)
Suddenly the team being cheered on by a sea of orange looked to be the ones navigating choppy waters. Russo hardly had a kick in the first-half but on her return to the side she drew England level.
When Stanway’s blocked pass fell behind Russo, England’s chance looked to have gone. But Russo showed why so many clubs were after her signature this summer, improvising brilliantly to take the ball on the swivel and finally end Van Domselaar’s resistance.
Still the Netherlands found joy down the right and their best chance came when Caitlin Dijkstra got in behind Jess Carter. Dijkstra laid off the ball invitingly for Martens but she could only fire straight at Earps.
As the clock struck 90, they did beat Earps for a second time. Jansen went clean through and fired emphatically past England’s goalkeeper.
