The opening match brought bad news, good news and a bitter taste. On the one hand, the women’s team conceded two goals in the first five minutes of the match against Switzerland, showing defensive weaknesses incompatible with a European Championship. For its part, the women’s team orchestrated a brilliant second half in which they managed to match the result and be clearly superior. Ultimately, the final draw was a disappointment in a match that Portugal naturally could have won.
It was in this context that, this Wednesday, the Portuguese team faced the Netherlands, the European champion team that in the first round of the group stage of the European Championship played in England also tied with Sweden. With Group C completely tied, with all four teams gaining one point, Portugal faced what was theoretically the most complex opponent: but he was far from entering the field already defeated.
A second part of luxury to forget five minutes of nightmare: Portugal draws with Switzerland in the European Open
“We have to be very strong in the way we play, because that’s the only thing we control once the ball starts rolling. The day we depend on the individual quality of the players, that will also be the day we will stop being competitive. Not for lack of this quality, but because we cannot depend today on someone who will not be there tomorrow. The secret, with the Netherlands, will be to have more ball, to take away scoring chances. It won’t be easy, but that was the challenge we gave the team: to have the ball, value that possession and manage the game ourselves”, said Francisco Neto, national coach, in the preview of the match.
Thus, again in Leigh, the National Team entered the field with the same eleven that tied with Switzerland: Diana Gomes and Carole Costa on the defensive axis, Catarina Amado and Joana Marchão on the wings, Tatiana Pinto, Dolores and Andreia Norton in the middle. countryside. and Ana Borges and Jéssica Silva supporting Diana Silva in the attack. In other words, after missing the first training sessions in England due to tonsillitis, Kika Nazareth started on the bench again. On the other hand, Mark Parsons launched a potent attacking trio of Van de Donk, Beerensteyn and Martens. In the stands, supporting the Portuguese team, were João Cancelo, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva, the Manchester City international trio.
Leigh, we’re here! ????????????#Let’s go with everything #TeamPortugal #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/FxfGz4CMB7
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 13, 2022
At kick-off, Portugal and the Netherlands already knew that Sweden had beaten Switzerland in the other group match, meaning that the Swedes were in virtual first place isolated and that the Swiss could hardly qualify for the quarter-finals. . The National Team started very well, appearing with the top line-ups and looking to surprise with quick incursions through the corridors and constant exchanges of positions between Ana Borges, Jéssica Silva and Diana Silva. Still in the first few minutes —and on the day she made history by becoming the Portuguese player with the most appearances, 146, beating Carla Couto—, Borges put the ball deep in the goal, deflected after a center by Jessica Silva to the left. , but the play was annulled for offside by the Benfica striker at the time of Joana Marchão’s pass (5′).
Moments later, the practically inevitable appeared. After a corner taken from the left, Egurrola took advantage of his superiority in centimeters and headed freely and practically alone to open the scoring (7 ′). The Netherlands took advantage of the momentum of the lead to take control of the game and Inês Pereira had to make an effort, with a great defense, to avoid Beerensteyn’s goal shortly after (9′). Even so, the second Dutch goal did not take long: after another corner from the left and after several poor clearances from the Portuguese defense, Van der Gragt found himself in the area and headed in to increase the lead (16′).
????????? Game ready????#WEURO2022 | #BY pic.twitter.com/ZeGqQemjpZ
— UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 13, 2022
Martens still had a good opportunity to score the third goal, shooting wide after a great cross from Van de Donk (24′), but Portugal knew how to react after half an hour, releasing the rival pressure and returning to the opposing midfield. Close to half-time, Diana Silva was fouled in the penalty area by Janssen and the match referee awarded a penalty after analyzing the VAR footage. In the conversion, Carole Costa did not give a chance and fell behind at a crucial moment, right at the end of the first half (38′).
None of the coaches made substitutions at half-time and the National Team returned to full throttle, with Tatiana Pinto coming close to equalizing with a header that Van Domselaar saved after a Jessica Silva cross from the right (46′). The Portuguese goal was predicted and, in the subsequent play, equality did not escape: Carole Costa crossed from the right and Diana Silva, very timely, escaped from the Dutch towers to head the goal (47 ‘). The Netherlands tried to react immediately, with Roord beating Inês Pereira with a strong shot in the penalty area, but the goal was ruled out for offside by Beerensteyn and the tie stood (53’).
Carole Costa scores for Portugal.
Holland 2 – 1 Portugal at half time#Women’s Football #Portugal #Netherlands #CaroleCosta pic.twitter.com/eIfwB4eUeh— Express Women Ballers (@EWomenBallers) July 13, 2022
Diane Silva!!!!pic.twitter.com/SdUZkEy46D
– GoncaloDias17 (@goncalo_diass17) July 13, 2022
Portugal remained at a good level, with Jéssica Silva displaying magic in the right corridor and Catarina Amado signing another almost brilliant performance, but the individual quality ended up making the difference: Van de Donk, with a perfect shot from outside the box that went straight into the corner of Inês Pereira’s goal, put the Netherlands ahead again (62′). Mark Parsons was the first to move, transferring Olislagers for Casparij, and Francisco Neto responded with the entry of Fátima Pinto and Kika Nazareth to replace Dolores and Joana Marchão, passing Ana Borges on the left of defence.
Until the end, Vanessa Marques and Carolina Mendes continued to enter, the Netherlands achieved the advantage and Portugal could not recover the tie, ending up losing to the team that is European champion in title. Even so, and despite the defeat, the National Team demonstrated once again that it did not go to the European Championship to dream, and that Portuguese women’s football is real and recommendable. Francisco Neto’s team retains one point in Group C, three less than Sweden and the four of Holland, and the truth is that it only depends on you and the result you get on Sunday against the Swedes (5:00 p.m.) to continue discussing the classification for the quarterfinals.
⏹ 90′ A performance we can only be proud of! ☝️ All out in the open: we only depend on ourselves to get ahead in this @WEURO2022 ?????????#NEDPOR | 3-2 | #Let’s go with everything #WEURO2022 pic.twitter.com/zeQKp0ObDe
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 13, 2022
Source: Observadora
