Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal as Wales’ major tournament debut ended with a 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands in Lucerne.

The Manchester City forward curled home from the edge of the area on the brink of half-time to begin the scoring against Wales, who are the lowest ranked team in the tournament.

Victoria Pelova and Esmee Brugts netted after the break, turning the result into a statement win in Group D, which also includes France and England.

Wales will feel the game simply just got away from them after their admirable efforts in the first period frustrated the 2017 European champions.

Although Olivia Clark was called into an early stop to keep out Miedema, Wales kept the Netherlands at bay for large periods, attempting to muster openings of their own with the likes of Ceri Holland and Hannah Cain combining early on.

However, warning signs of the Dutch quality emerged when Jill Roord let fly from distance, rattling the post with a volleyed effort. The audacity of her strike paved the way for Miedema to put her nation in the driving seat, becoming the first Dutch player in both women’s and men’s history to make it to a century of goals for Oranje.

It was the worst possible time for Wales to concede, as perhaps still rattled by the opener, they casually allowed Pelova to make it two when Danielle van de Donk ran onto a long ball over the top, before teeing up the Arsenal midfielder who had all the time in the world to pick her spot past Clark in the area.

The Dutch added a third when former Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen’s effort from the edge of the box rebounded off the bar. The Dutch kept it alive, with Pelova turning provider this time, picking out a high and wide Brugts to guide home at the back post.

If not for an offside flag, three could have easily become four when a freshly introduced Lineth Beerensteyn, who replaced Miedema, had the ball in the back of the net.

Beerensteyn’s impact came as part of a dominant end to the game for the Dutch, who provided a baptism of fire for the Dragons, who gear up to turn things around against France on Wednesday. The Netherlands will take on their former boss, Sarina Wiegman and her defending champions, England, next.

Wales beaten… but not down

Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes at Allmend Stadion Luzern:

“Beaten…but not down. Every player salutes the ‘Red Wall’ who didn’t rush off anywhere at full-time.

“It was a tough baptism, but it was always a possibility that the Netherlands would win with some comfort.

“What Wales showed was some guts; they never crumbled or gave up. They stayed disciplined and ran their bodies into the ground.”