Kathleen McGovern’s first Scotland goal earned Melissa Andreatta’s already-relegated side a first point in Nations League Group A1 against the Netherlands.

Former Manchester City midfielder Jill Roord smashed Andries Jonkers Euro 2025-bound hosts into a lead after 10 minutes, but the much-improved Scots replied in a competitive first half.

Hibernian forward McGovern, who made her international debut in Friday night’s defeat by Austria, repaid head coach Andreatta’s faith and made her case as Scotland’s first-choice striker.

Indeed, the visitors can count themselves unlucky not to win as couple of fine saves from home goalkeeper Daphne van Domeselaar denied Scotland in the dramatic closing minutes.

Scotland started brightly at Koning Willem II Stadion, showing no signs of fatigue or frailty, despite only arriving in the Netherlands eight hours before kick-off as a result of flight problems.

Despite those early signs of promise, though, a slackness at the back proved costly.

Jenna Clark was initially bailed out by centre-back partner Sophie Howard’s block, then goalkeeper Lee Gibson’s save with her boot, but Twente’s Roord was alert to the rebound and fired in from close range.

Unlike other times throughout this dismal campaign, though, Scottish heads did not dip.

Celtic right-back Emma Lawton instead had hers raised and picked out McGovern with a wicked cross, which the powerful forward bundled in.

As expected, the Dutch – who were hammered 4-0 by Germany four days ago – did not go down lightly and peppered Gibson’s goal, but the Glasgow City shotstopper once again pulled out a string of impressive saves.

The Scots could have secured a first League A win had Kirsty Howat and fellow substitute Martha Thomas not been denied by Van Domeselaar before the latter striker clipped over the goalkeeper and on to the roof of the net.

However, a draw in Tilburg was telling of the improvements Scotland have made in the short time under their new Australian team boss.