The weather was extreme, the refereeing controversial and much of Spain’s passing exceptional but, not for the first time, Mark Sampson’s England found a way to win in adversity. Fran Kirby’s high-calibre early finish and another outstanding late goal from Jodie Taylor left them top of Group D and on the verge of qualification for the knockout phase.

Along with torrential rain the Lionesses were forced to weather quite a technical storm from a gifted Spain side who ranked as one of the pre-tournament favourites. But, despite ceding the bulk of possession, Sampson’s defence restricted their opponents to half-chances.

“It’s a huge result for us,” said England’s coach. “We’ll look back and say this was a big moment for we found a way to win. I’m in awe of my players. It was a really memorable England performance and potentially a pivotal moment.”

Kickoff brought a sense of deja vu, along with a memory of an English triumph at this ground. Seven years ago, on another rainy Sunday in Breda, Steve McClaren’s then FC Twente side won the Eredivisie title here.

Sampson arrived in town anxious to build on England’s 6-0 deconstruction of Scotland in their opening Group D game last Wednesday and, in an unprecedented move, he named an unchanged starting XI. It was the first time a coach who adores rotation had done so in 55 games since taking charge.

Jorge Vilda’s Spain lined up in the 3-5-2 formation which has become their hallmark but were without Veronica Boquete, the Paris Saint-Germain false nine, a shock omission from the squad in the wake of a row about bonuses.

Spain should have scored in the opening seconds when Vicky Losada capitalised on Steph Houghton’s slip before shooting wastefully wide.

Making the most of that reprieve, England took a second-minute lead. Ellen White pounced on a loose ball before supplying Fran Kirby with a pass which left the Chelsea striker clean through. All that remained was for Kirby to give Sandra Paños “the eyes” and shape to aim one way before directing her shot inside the opposite post.

Back in the Eighty Years War between 1568 and 1648 Breda, a strategically important southern Netherlands town, was sacked five times by Spain’s armies.

Accordingly Diego Velazquez’s, famous 1625 oil painting, ’The Surrender of Breda’ depicts swashbuckling Spanish conquerors but, initially Vilda’s side looked anything but in control here.

Indeed they would have swiftly been two down had Millie Bright’s looping header from Jordan Nobbs’s deep free-kick not been disallowed for either an extremely dubious or a non-existent infringement.

The Italian referee, Carina Vitulano, had been not so subtly warned by Sampson to be mindful of some of the ploys of Vilda’s team. His pre-match media address about Spain’s “dark arts” and their being “hard to fall in love with” was clearly meant for her ears but she seemed completely unmoved.

The England coach, already aggrieved about the disallowed goal, became increasingly agitated by some feisty, yet unpunished, Spanish challenges, most notably involving Nobbs.

As the rain lashed down, the surface began cutting up and becoming ever more tricky and slippery. Undeterred, Spain showed off much superlative technical excellence by dominating midfield thanks to some highly impressive passing. During one 10-minute stint England, by now sitting deep and concentrating on keeping their shape, barely touched the ball.

Vildas’ players were very much in control and their football most definitely loveable. And yet, despite ceding virtually 80% of possession, the Lionesses remained sufficiently organised to ensure that such domination was not translated into chances and Karen Bardsley – who barely had a save to make – was rarely stretched.

Unperturbed by the imbalance in midfield, Sampson opted to continue with three up front for the second half but, with Jennifer Hermoso excelling in an attacking role for Spain, it arguably represented a high-risk strategy. Yet if the subtlety of Hermoso’s movement and the cleverness of her link play vexed Houghton and Bright, she and her team-mates could not unlock an England defence in which Lucy Bronze shone at right-back.

Even so the Lionesses had started to look a little tired and their fans feared the worst when White fell over, inadvertently handling the ball in the process, and the referee awarded a penalty.

But within a minute Vitulano changed her mind and, much to the fury and bemusement of Spain’s bench, gave England a free-kick instead.

That little cameo appeared to offer Sampson’s players fresh impetus. Demi Stokes’s advance, and Nobbs’s smart flick – aided by a slight deflection – left Taylor free to remind everyone of her ruthlessness by dinking the ball superbly over Paños.

Scotland’s chances suffer another blow

Scotland’s chances of progressing out of their group at Euro 2017 were dealt another blow as they lost 2-1 to Portugal in Rotterdam.

The teenage substitute Erin Cuthbert briefly gave Scotland hope by scoring her country’s first goal at a major tournament to cancel out Carolina Mendes’ first-half opener, but Portugal regained the lead through Ana Leita four minutes later.

Scotland, thrashed 6-0 by England in their first Group D game on Wednesday, almost equalised again in the closing stages, but Caroline Weir’s shot hit a post with five minutes left.

The striker Lana Clelland should have given Scotland a deserved 17th-minute lead, but squandered a golden chance after Weir’s low shot had been parried by Portugal goalkeeper Sousa Barros Morais. Clelland miskicked the rebound with the goal at her mercy five yards out and, after scrambling to get another shot away, Barros Morais pushed the ball on to a post.

The unmarked Clelland mis-controlled again inside the penalty area in the 25th minute following Fiona Brown’s cross to the far post. It was another costly miss. Portugal, the second lowest-ranked team in the tournament, were gifted the lead against the run of play two minutes later, courtesy of a defensive howler and with their first attempt on goal.

Abreu Sousa Silva pounced on a misplaced pass inside her own half and her deflected cross caught Vaila Barsley flat-footed. The Scotland centre-half missed the ball with her attempted clearance and Mendes stole in to turn the ball home from six yards.

Portugal grew in confidence and looked the more accomplished side at the start of the second half without creating any clear-cut chances. Leanne Crichton blazed off target for Scotland after substitute Cuthbert’s neat turn and cross and Brown’s left-wing cross was well-gathered by Barros Morais.

Cuthbert’s introduction had given Scotland a lift and she linked brilliantly with Brown inside the penalty area before firing them level with a low right-footed shot inside the far post in the 68th minute.

But Scotland were undone again four minutes later. Leita raced on to a flick-on straight from a goal-kick and held off Barsley’s challenge to slide a left-footed finish beneath goalkeeper Gemma Fay from just inside the area.

Scotland went down fighting. Weir smashed a left-footed shot against a post with five minutes left, but they were left to rue missed first-half chances.