Stefanie van der Gragt’s first half header was the difference between the sides, as the Oranje Machine recorded a win in their opening encounter against Portugal.

Three separate World Cup appearances and now three wins in each of their opening ties, a game that lacked a lot of real total football, just a slim margin between them but the Dutch will be happy with the points.

Portugal looked strong but Ines Pereira was the busier of the keepers, it took 81 minutes for the debutants to force Dutch shot stopper Daphne van Domselaar, as they just lacked that killer touch.

It took a bit of time for the game to open, but the Netherlands did press well and started to get some chances, Portugal goalkeeper Inês Pereira was off her line quick to deal with a through ball, before Lineth Beerensteyn was caught narrowly offside.

After 11 minutes they had their best chance as Lineth Beerensteyn had an effort on goal, but for a vital interception by Carole Cosa sent it for a corner, Sherida Spitse took it from the right and Stefanie van der Gragt nodded home the corner.

However, the assistant had the flag up, Jill Roord was standing in an offside position as van der Gragt powered the header toward the net, also looked like she was blocking the goalkeeper, but after a lengthy VAR review of the goal, it was given.

Confidence was fully with the Oranje Machine and they should have doubled the lead after 24 minutes, Spitse again with a corner, this time the opposite side, Roord headed over when it looked easier to score, a massive let off for Portugal, as Roord looked annoyed in herself.

Pressure remained on the Portuguese, set pieces were dangerous as Spitse was delivering them into the area, Pereira the busier of the two keepers but she was alert, Lieke Martens went for goal from distance, her effort deflected and trickled through to waiting gloves of Inês Pereira in the Portuguese goal, before she had a then save a weak header from De Donk.

Portugal were aggressive, committing eight fouls in the opening half, the Dutch leading at the break, a stat that in their previous seven World Cup ties when they took the lead, they never came out on the losing side, a good omen going into the interval.

Into the second half and the Netherlands again started well, a great chance coming early on, Lineth Beerensteyn maybe took too long to try and play a pass, but De Donk peeled off and made a run behind her, she was played through on goal but Pereira saved well, she was doing her best to keep it at 1-0.

While at the other end, Portugal were trying to create chances, but Jessica Silva was a bit isolated up front, she however had a great chance in the 56th minute as she raced clear, but a timely intervention from van der Gragt stopped the chance.

As we neared the hour mark, Portugal were playing with a lot more purpose, the Dutch lead was slim and a speculative effort from Beerensteyn was not going in to increase it, but the underdogs still were causing threat, Tatiana Pinto crossing into the box, but the Dutch defence tall and strong to deal with those all day.

Another piece of of defensive brilliance from van der Gragt stopped Jessicia Silva in her tracks, a great tackle tinned to perfection to stop the danger of a shot on target, Telma Encarnacao forced Daphne van Domselaar into a save shortly after coming on in the final ten minutes, a first save of the evening for the Dutch keeper.

The final minutes had little to no real spells of action, the Dutch in control, Portugal unable to find that killer pass to force an equaliser, the Dutch side held on holding the ball to kill the clock and ensure three points in their first game.