The Portuguese women’s football team secured a place in the European play-off for the 2023 World Cup on Tuesday, after beating Turkey 4-0 in Vizela in the 10th and final round of Group H.
In front of 2,471 spectators, in Vizela, the team opened Telma Encarnação’s score from the corners and extended the lead through Kika Nazareth, before reaching 3-0 in the 49th minute in an own goal by Kezban Tag and closing the score in the 79th, by the alternate Andreia Faria.
By thrashing a team it had been dragged with at the opening of the qualifying round on 16 September 2021, Portugal secured second place in Group H, by 22 points, behind already established Germany, and will play in the first round – out, on October 6, to one hand, with a draw on Friday.
The Portuguese team pushed the game to the Turkish midfield from the first minute, but it was not until the half hour that imbalances in the opponent’s rear became more frequent, after long periods of ball movement, but at a slow pace, unable to get more than a shot by Kika Nazareth over the top, in the 13th minute.
The Portuguese players accelerated the offensive maneuver in the last fifteen minutes of the first half, especially on the right, with a cross from Ana Borges who preceded the warning for Diana Gomes’ opening goal, blocked by goalkeeper Selda Akgöz. of the challenge three minutes later.
Turkey’s five-defender system in the off-ball moments lost cohesion and Telma Encarnação, isolated in the heart of the area, headed a header to the back of the net after another cross from the right from Diana Silva.
Even more balanced for the attack, as a result of the goal, the roster under Francisco Neto extended the advantage in a three-minute interval, with Kika Nazareth taking advantage of an incomplete defense from the Turkish guardian and a header from Diana Gomes for the accurate rebound.
The 19-year-old attacker was injured in the change that brought her the fourth goal in 20 caps for the senior national team, forcing her to be replaced by Andreia Faria in the 39th minute.
Even with the fall, the national team kept up the challenge, without any Turkish reaction, and was even more comfortable when Kezban Tag, when he tried to cancel an individual move by Diana Silva, the striker who completed his 75th cap for Portugal today. , brought the ball into his own goal.
The Portuguese team controlled every moment of the time remaining, with goalkeeper Patrícia Morais practically a spectator of the incidents in the other half of the field, two of which stood out: a header by Telma Encarnação just over the post, at 56 minutes. , and Andreia Faria’s shot near the corner of the area to fly over the Turkish goalkeeper, resulting in the most eye-catching goal of the game, at 79.
Source: DN
