Netherlands strike late to defeat England in Nations League

Four days on from an unconvincing 2-1 win over Scotland in League A Group 1, Alessia Russo's clever strike appeared to have stolen a point for the Lionesses in Utrecht after Lieke Martens's opener, but a thunderous 90th-minute winner from Renate Jansen condemned the visitors to defeat.

A fast start for the Netherlands was rewarded in the 35th minute, albeit in highly controversial circumstances, as Georgia Stanway was charged down by Jackie Groenen, whose block fell to Danielle van de Donk inside the box.

The 32-year-old held the ball up for Martens to curl a delightful effort into the side of the net, but the lineswoman failed to pick up on Van de Donk being in an offside position, and there was no VAR in Utrecht to overturn the decision.

The Lionesses reacted positively as the half drew to a close, as Rachel Daly was denied by the post before Daphne van Domselaar produced a smart double save to keep out Lauren Hemp and Lucy Bronze in quick succession in the 43rd minute.

Attempting a carbon copy of Martens's opener, Lineth Beerensteyn struck the bar one minute later during a frenetic end to the half, before England came out all guns blazing in the second, only to see Van Domselaar produce a terrific point-blank save to deny Hemp in the 57th minute.

However, the visitors' endeavours would finally be rewarded six minutes later, as substitute Chloe Kelly slipped through Stanway, whose deflected shot fell kindly at the feet of Russo, who found the side of the net with an improvised first-time shot.

Wiegman's side failed to test the gloves of Van Domselaar following Russo's strike, though, and they were dealt a cruel sucker punch in the 90th minute as Martens went from scorer to provider; playing an inch-perfect through ball to Jansen to fire an emphatic strike into the roof of the net.

Alex Greenwood was the guilty party - giving the ball away in the middle of the park - and England could not muster up a response in a five-minute added time period, dropping to third in the section as a result.

An October double-header with Belgium now awaits the Lionesses, who meet the Red Flames at the King Power Stadium on October 27 before renewing hostilities in Leuven four days later.