USA-Netherlands takeaways: USWNT finds resolve in second half to force a draw

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — In the most hotly anticipated match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup so far, the two-time defending champion United States battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to tie the Netherlands in both teams' second first-round game Wednesday.

Dutch striker Jill Roord opened the scoring just 17 minutes into the match, but U.S. co-captain Lindsey Horan equalized for the Americans, FIFA's top-ranked team, off a corner kick from Rose Lavelle with about a half-hour remaining, preventing the Americans from suffering their first group stage World Cup loss since they lost to Sweden in their final first-round game in 2011.

Here are a few quick takeaways following Wednesday's match:

[ Lindsey Horan sets a fiery example for young USWNT ]

Play of the game

The favorites had started on the front foot, pouring pressure on the Dutch back line from the opening whistle. But the Netherlands clearly came to play, too, forcing the U.S. into turnovers and maintaining possession methodically after they won the ball. 

That patience paid off when an unmarked Roord collected a pass at the top of the penalty area, took a touch and calmly slid a low shot along the turf and past U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and into the corner of the net. 

The goal silenced the pro-U.S. crowd at Sky Stadium. It also allowed the Netherlands to sit back, defend with numbers and try to put away the game with another counterattack. And for the rest of the first half and the beginning of the second, that strategy frustrated the Americans, who were confronted with a wall of orange shirts whenever they got close to the goal.

But Horan completely changed the momentum of the contest when she soared into the air to meet Lavelle's pinpoint