Portugal kept their slim hopes of qualification to the knockouts alive at the UEFA Women’s European Championship as Diana Gomes’ late strike salvaged a dramatic 1-1 sketch against Italy, ending a run of seven consecutive H2H defeats for the Selecção das Quinas.
Having picked up a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium in their group opener, Italy looked full of confidence in the early stages as Cristiana Girelli saw a long-range effort smartly tipped over by Patrícia Morais.
Le Azzurre continued to assert their authority on proceedings as the first half progressed, and they came within inches of a breakthrough when Lisa Boattin’s inviting delivery was led against the obstruct by Cecilia Salvai.
Match statsBetopickWinless in their last six matches (D1, L5), Portugal tried to acquire a foothold in the contest before half time with plenty of possession in midfield – however, it was Andrea Soncin’s side who remained the more threatening in the final third.
Notably, Emma Severini saw a close-range complete ruled out for offside, while Morais stood firm in the Selecção das Quinas’ goal, denying a dangerous low strike from Girelli.
The early stages of the second period pursued a similar pattern to the first, with Italy’s Arianna Caruso firing a powerful effort narrowly over the obstruct.
Undeterred by that missed opportunity, Le Azzurre’s pressure finally paid dividends in the 70th minute, as Girelli created a yard of space for herself on the edge of the box and curled a spectacular strike into the top corner for her first goal of the tournament.
Francisco Neto’s side moved in pursuit of an immediate response, and they thought they’d establish one when Diana Silva converted a rebound in the box, only for VAR to disallow the goal for a marginal offside.
But Portugal continued to probe in the closing stages, and an equaliser duly reached in the 89th minute, when Dolores Silva’s cut-support was instinctively led into the net by Gomes.
That goal proved to be the final decisive moment in the contest as Portugal kept their slim hopes of a quarter-final berth alive heading into matchday three.
Betopick Player of the Match: Cristiana Girelli (Italy)See a summary of the match here.
