A 2-1 win over France has propelled the Dutch women’s football team to the top of their World Cup qualifying group with seven points from three games.
Ajax player Renee van Asten, who at just 19 was playing her first match for Oranje, opened the scoring after 11 minutes in Breda. France equalised in the second half, and it was Barcelona’s Esmee Brugts who put away the winner in the 67th minute. The two sides will meet again on Saturday in France.
The group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup in Brazil in 2027, while the other three teams will go through several rounds of play-offs.
Oranje was without seven key players through injury, including captain Dominique Janssen.
