Lindsey Horan, the United States' co-captain and midfield glue, revealed how getting "pissed" at a crunching tackle from club teammate Daniëlle van de Donk fired her up to score the equalizing goal that secured a 1-1 tie against the Netherlands on Wednesday night. "I think once we got into that tackle, all I wanted to do was score," Horan told FOX Sports. "Heat of the moment, I got a little pissed at her, but Rose [Lavelle] put in an absolute dime, and I got on the end of it." Horan hadn't been having a good afternoon against the Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium.
None of the Americans were. They were losing 1-0, while getting outplayed, outfought and outdueled in the tactical stakes. Horan, usually the one to bully the other team's midfield unit, found herself overwhelmed by the Dutch team's five-strong posse packing the center of the park. [ Lindsey Horan sets a fiery example for young USWNT ] But then van de Donk made the error of judgment that provided the fuel to stir up Horan and shift the entire feel of this critical Group E clash between the reigning champion Americans and the team they beat in the 2019 final.
Van de Donk, Horan's teammate with French side Lyon, lurched into an overly physical tackle that was not called. Horan wasn't happy, sharing some choice words while being attended to by the coaching staff, and took offense.
With Lavelle preparing to take a 62nd-minute corner from the right, play was halted as van de Donk and Horan exchanged angry words, shoved each other forcefully, pointed fingers and had to be separated by referee Yoshimi Yamashita.