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Danielle van de Donk scored the winner as defending champions the Netherlands survived a huge scare to defeat Portugal and go top of Group C after an action-packed Euro 2022 encounter.
Having been held by Sweden in their opening game, the Dutch swept into a 2-0 lead without star player Vivianne Miedema, who was ruled out with Covid-19.
In a thriller at Leigh Sports Village, Portugal stunned their opponents by mounting an impressive comeback for a second successive match before Van de Donk settled it with a superb dipping, swerving effort.
Former Everton midfielder Damaris Egurrola had opened the scoring with a looping header, before Stefanie van der Gragt nodded in a second for the Netherlands.
Carole Costa reduced the deficit with a 38th-minute penalty that was awarded after a pitchside monitor check by the referee, before Diana Silva's header sparked scenes of jubilation among Portuguese supporters.
At 2-2, Jill Roord thought she had restored the Netherlands' advantage, but her effort was ruled out for an offside.
There was no denying former Arsenal midfielder Van de Donk's strike, though, as she sent her side top with one round of group matches to go.
Portugal had rallied from 2-0 down to earn a point against Switzerland in their previous game and threatened another impressive fightback through Costa's penalty.
It was awarded after the Croatian referee Ivana Martincic checked the monitor following Dominque Janssen's foul on Diana Silva.
At 0-0, Portugal's Ana Borges - winning a record 146th cap for her country - also had a goal ruled out for offside.
The Netherlands were not helped by injuries to their first-choice goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal and defender Aniek Nouwen, while Miedema and Jackie Groenen were absent with Covid.
But they got the job done to put themselves in a strong position to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands have four points from two games and top Group C from Sweden on goals scoredDripping in drama
Leigh Sports Village was painted orange as Dutch fans outnumbered their Portuguese rivals.
This was the second of four Euro 2022 games at the home of Manchester United's WSL team and hundreds of supporters soaked up the sunshine in the town's civic square before the game.
The carnival atmosphere carried over into the stadium where the crowd were treated to a game dripping in drama from start to finish.
The venue is fast emerging as the place for goals and excitement at this tournament. Two games here have produced nine goals and fantastic entertainment.
The Netherlands will hope to have one or two of their absent players back for the third and final group game against Switzerland at Bramall Lane on Sunday, while Portugal - in third place with one point - return on the same day to Leigh Sports Village to face Sweden.
Both games kick-off at 17:00 BST.
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Netherlands
Squad number16Player namevan Domselaar
Squad number5Player nameWilms
Squad number3Player namevan der Gragt
Squad number20Player nameJanssen
Squad number19Player nameOlislagers
Squad number8Player nameSpitse
Squad number21Player nameEgurrola
Squad number10Player namevan de Donk
Squad number6Player nameRoord
Squad number11Player nameMartens
Squad number7Player nameBeerensteyn
Squad number12Player namePelova
Squad number18Player nameCasparij
Squad number22Player nameBrugts
Portugal
Squad number1Player nameInês Pereira
Squad number2Player nameCatarina Amado
Squad number19Player nameDiana Gomes
Squad number15Player nameCarole Costa
Squad number5Player nameJoana Marchão
Squad number11Player nameTatiana Pinto
Squad number14Player nameDolores Silva
Squad number8Player nameAndreia Norton
Squad number16Player nameDiana Silva
Squad number9Player nameAna Borges
Squad number10Player nameJéssica Silva
Squad number7Player nameVanessa Marques
Squad number13Player nameFátima Pinto
Squad number18Player nameCarolina Mendes
Squad number20Player nameKika Nazareth
Line-ups
Netherlands
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16van Domselaar
- 5Wilms
- 3van der Gragt
- 20JanssenBooked at 37mins
- 19OlislagersSubstituted forCasparijat 62'minutes
- 8Spitse
- 21EgurrolaBooked at 39minsSubstituted forPelovaat 69'minutes
- 10van de Donk
- 6RoordBooked at 88mins
- 11MartensSubstituted forBrugtsat 83'minutes
- 7BeerensteynBooked at 54mins
Substitutes
- 1Weimar
- 4van Dongen
- 12Pelova
- 13Jansen
- 15Dijkstra
- 17Leuchter
- 18Casparij
- 22Brugts
- 23Lorsheyd
Portugal
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Teixeira PereiraBooked at 90mins
- 2Silva AmadoBooked at 17mins
- 19Ribeiro GomesBooked at 88mins
- 15da Silva Costa
- 5Gaspar Silva MarchãoSubstituted forRamos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousaat 66'minutes
- 11Ferreira PintoSubstituted forMarques Malhoat 86'minutes
- 14Jácome da SilvaSubstituted forFigueira Pintoat 65'minutes
- 8Norton
- 16Abreu de Sousa e SilvaSubstituted forTrindade Coruche Mendesat 86'minutes
- 9Marques Borges
- 10Manjenje Nogueira Silva
Substitutes
- 3de Figueiredo Lima Correia
- 4Garcia Rebelo
- 6Pires Cardozo
- 7Marques Malho
- 12Sousa Barros Morais
- 13Figueira Pinto
- 17Sousa Alves
- 18Trindade Coruche Mendes
- 20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa
- 21Martins Faria
- 22Campos Costa
- 23Velosa Encarnação
Live Text
Match ends, Netherlands 3, Portugal Women 2.
Inês Pereira (Portugal Women) is shown the yellow card.
Second Half ends, Netherlands 3, Portugal Women 2.
Corner, Portugal Women. Conceded by Dominique Janssen.
Foul by Esmee Brugts (Netherlands).
Vanessa Marques (Portugal Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Netherlands. Jill Roord tries a through ball, but Esmee Brugts is caught offside.
Esmee Brugts (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Andreia Norton (Portugal Women).
Daniëlle van de Donk (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fátima Pinto (Portugal Women).
Lineth Beerensteyn (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Vanessa Marques (Portugal Women).
Lineth Beerensteyn (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Diana Gomes (Portugal Women).
Diana Gomes (Portugal Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jill Roord (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card.
Jill Roord (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Diana Gomes (Portugal Women).
Foul by Daniëlle van de Donk (Netherlands).
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