WELLINGTON, New Zealand — By the time Daniëlle van de Donk poked the proverbial bear, American frustration had already been bubbling. Lindsey Horan felt it. Alex Morgan and other U.S. women’s national teamers felt it. They felt “elbows in the back here and there,” Morgan said, “and little other things” throughout their Thursday World Cup showdown with the Netherlands.

But it was van de Donk’s crunching tackle, in the 58th minute, charging and clattering into Horan, that inflamed the USWNT captain.

And “that,” Horan later said, “is where you get the best football from Lindsey. I don't think you ever wanna get me mad.”

She winced in pain during a two-minute injury stoppage, frustration now boiling, then returned to the field to rescue the USWNT in a 1-1 draw with the Dutch.