Portugal made history this Wednesday by guaranteeing its first presence in a women’s soccer World Cup. The coach Francisco Neto says that this was a “difficult goal”, but the achievement of it is a reason for “pride”.
“[O que fica] there are some nerves and, above all, a lot of emotions and an immense joy to distribute to all the Portuguese, to the clubs and their staff, and also to the entire structure of the Portuguese Football Federation, which is undoubtedly celebrating. I said there in the circle, to our players, that this directive had the audacity to put Portugal in the Eurocup and the World Cup in its goal plan for this season. We were able to fulfill the wish of our management and we are very proud of that. It was a difficult goal, but, after the president’s message, which was made public, we just had to achieve it, ”he said.
Thrilled with this achievement, Carole Costa, who scored the winning goal for Portugal, says she just wants to celebrate now. “It’s the happiest day of our lives. I still haven’t been able to cry, I still don’t realize it. We are so happy that now we just want to celebrate with this huge group, who fought so hard.” be in the World Cup And that’s it. What we want most is to be. I think of the generation of Edite, Carla Couto and others who fought for this moment. Fortunately we made it, for us, for them and for all those who stayed at home and are surely cheering us on,” she says.
Carole Costa remembers that “it is not an easy moment to concede a goal in the last minutes [1-1, aos 89]”, but, “fortunately, we had the opportunity for the penalty. “He came on and I’m very happy about that. It is always a great responsibility. He really wanted to score and luckily the ball went in. It is the happiest day of my life, without a doubt. Now comes the World Cup.”
Tatiana Pinto, a player from Portugal and chosen the best player on the field in this Wednesday’s match, stresses that the individual award “doesn’t matter today.” “I won everything, I qualified for the World Cup.”
“We started the first part very well and right there we could have resolved the game. We suffered a little because of us, but we ended up coming back, and the most important thing is that we are qualified for the World Cup and I am very proud of all of them. This was a dream of all the people who passed through here and all those involved in football, and for the generations that still dream of arriving one day. We are very happy to be part of this history and change. the path of Portuguese women’s football”, he points out.
The goalkeeper Patrícia Morais speaks of a “dream for any athlete”. “It is still not reality. It is enjoying to the fullest, it is taking advantage of the moment. It’s celebrating today, celebrating tomorrow and then continuing on our way.”
Inês Pereira, substitute goalkeeper for Portugal, recounts the moments after the equalizing goal: “We knew we were superior in the game, as it was like that 90% of the time. They ended up scoring, but we knew that with our ability, the connection between those outside and those inside the field, we were going to achieve it and, fortunately, we managed to score immediately, in a penalty won by Andreia Jacinto, who came from the bench, and achieved, with great class, by Carole, that managed to score.”
This Wednesday, Portugal beat Cameroon 2-1 in the final of Group A of the Intercontinental Play-off, in Hamilton, New Zealand. With this victory, Portugal makes history and guarantees its first qualification for a Women’s Soccer World Cup.
The team took the lead with a goal from Diana Gomes in the 22nd minute, but in the 89th minute the Cameroonian Ajara Nchout scored the tie.
At the final whistle, the Cameroonian team tied and, already in extra time, at minute 90+4, Carole Costa broke the tie by converting a penalty.
Source: TSF
