The nations which contested the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, the USA and Holland, produced an enthralling rematch four years on at Wellington's Sky Stadium on July 27, the final 1-1 scoreline a fitting outcome to a terrific cut-and-thrust tussle watched by 27,312 fans at the venue, and millions from afar. The tone of the contest was set early doors, the reigning world champions taking charge of proceedings and thrice threatening to open the scoring inside the first ten minutes. Andi Sullivan and Crystal Dunn combined on the left in the sixth minute, the fullback's angled ball into the danger zone being missed by both Sherida Spitse and Stefanie Van der Gragt, with Alex Morgan unable to capitalise on their unexpected failure to clear their lines. Two minutes later, Lindsey Horan set sail downfield before linking with Savannah Demelo and Sophia Smith, who cut inside before returning possession to Demelo. She rifled a shot past the near post, while from the resulting goal kick, Trinity Rodman nearly caught Dutch goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar in possession - she just cleared her lines in time. Holland responded to this early US pressure by stunning the world champions with the opening goal in the seventeenth minute. The brilliance of Lieke Martens was the catalyst for the goal, the striker completely deceiving two opponents on halfway before storming downfield and playing an inch-perfect pass into the stride of Victoria Pelova. Her initial ball inside was indecisive, allowing Dunn to briefly avert the danger, but Pelova picked up the loose ball and played it to Jill Roord. One touch to control, the second to send a low fifteen yard drive arrowing unerringly into the bottom far corner of the net - 1-0 Holland, and the first time the USA had trailed in a FIFA Women's World Cup Finals fixture since falling behind to Brazil in their epic encounter in Germany in 2011. Straight from the kick-off, Rodman looked to redress the balance, drawing a fine save from Van Domselaar with her thumping twenty-five yarder. Four minutes later, Alex Morgan went close with a looping header from Demelo's corner, to which Martens responded with another rampaging run before firing in a cross which Dunn headed to safety before Danielle Van de Donk had the chance to pull the trigger. The Dutch went close to doubling their advantage on the half-hour via an unlikely source, Dominique Janssen's murderous late-dipping twenty-five yard volley catching out Alyssa Naeher, who was mightily relieved to see the sphere land on the roof of her net, rather than drop beneath the crossbar. Back came the four-time champions, Morgan producing a lovely piece of skill to evade three opponents before targeting the head of Rodman with a cross. Van der Gragt stepped in to avert the danger, prompting successive US corners, both of which were delivered by Demelo. Julie Ertz and Horan both went close with headed attempts at the near post. Smith's 38th minute cross was punched clear in unconvincing fashion by Van Domselaar, the last act of note in a compelling first half, the tone of

which continued unabated after the interval - a proper battle, two contrasting styles colliding, with commitment in evidence in spades and tackles flying in, only one of which earned the ire of Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita, half-time substitute Rose Lavelle the game's lone booking, five minutes after her introduction. A clash between clubmates Horan and Van de Donk earned both a talking-to from the referee on the hour, and served to stoke the flames in the US captain's boiler. She channelled her aggression brilliantly from a corner just two minutes later, racing in to the near post area to meet Lavelle's delivery with a bullet header which slammed into the back of the net - 1-1. Five minutes later, Morgan struck to double the USA's lead, only for the offside flag to chalk off the goal and set up a grandstand finish, one which saw the Americans finish the stronger of the two teams, only to find Holland's defensive rearguard in impenetrable form. In the 73rd minute, Morgan's round-the-corner pass invited Smith to take on three opponents en route to the penalty area, where she stopped and started, throwing off the defensive cover to engineer space for a shot. Alas for the promising youngster, her acute-angled effort flew wildly over the bar. Six minutes later, Holland responded through Martens, this time roaming down the right before linking with Van de Donk. She touched the ball into Roord's stride, allowing her to deliver a cross which Esmee Brugts, on her last day as a teenager, smashed goalwards, only for the covering figure of Ertz to avert the danger - a great block to thwart a great move. Back came the USA, Morgan and Smith combining for the benefit of Rodman eight minutes from time. Racing through the inside left channel, she fired the ball across Van Domselaar but just past the far post. The world champions earned a corner soon after, Lavelle's delivery being cleared to Smith, who fair hammered a shot towards the far corner of the net. It looked in for all money until Martens intervened, heading off the line by the post to maintain parity on the scoreboard. Cue another bid to snatch a late winner by the team which is bidding to win the trophy for a fifth time. This time, Rodman delivered a cross for Morgan, whose header was blocked by half-time substitute Aniek Nouwen. Spitse eventually tidied things up, but it was slow motion city for a few seconds, given the Dutch were hanging on for a point. They eventually realised it, a thrilling 1-1 draw between the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup finalists which easily ranks as one of the best displays of international football ever seen on these shores - great stuff! USA:          Naeher; Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn; Demelo (Lavelle, 46 (booked, 51)), Sullivan, Horan; Rodman, Morgan, Smith Holland:     Van Domselaar; Spitse, Van der Gragt (Nouwen, 46), Janssen; Pelova (Casparij, 86), Roord (Jansen, 90), Groenen, Van de Donk, Brugts; Snoeijs (Egurrola, 71), Martens Referee:     Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)