Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth scored to secure a 2-0 victory over Vietnam and a maiden Women’s World Cup win.
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Telma Encarnacao scored Portugal’s first Women’s World Cup goal
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Kika Nazareth added a second in a dominant performance
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Result means Vietnam are eliminated
Portugal 2 – 0 Vietnam | Group E
Goalscorers: Telma Encarnacao (7′), Kika Nazareth (21′)
Portugal kept alive their FIFA Women’s World Cup™ hopes and ensured Vietnam were eliminated in the process after a 2-0 win at Waikato Stadium.
First-half goals from Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth secured a first Women’s World Cup win for Portugal after a dominant display in Hamilton.
Portugal could have been in front inside the opening five minutes after Jessica Silva and Nazareth both missed when clear inside the penalty area.
But they did take the lead on seven minutes when Portugal worked the ball well down the right-hand side before Lucia Alves crossed for the unmarked Encarnacao to finish from close range.
The lead was increased on 21 minutes when Nazareth was played through on goal. She took a touch before rolling the ball past Thi Kim Thanh Tran to double the European’s advantage.
Further chances came and went for Portugal, with Silva denied by Tran in the second half moments before Nazareth fired straight at the Vietnam goalkeeper after Joana Marchao’s shot looped up onto the crossbar.
Portugal will now face USA in their final Group E game knowing victory over the holders would secure a last-16 spot.
Key stat
Portugal’s Kika Nazareth (20y 252d) is the youngest player to score for a European nation at the 2023 finals so far.
VISA Player of the Match
Telma Encarnacao
Quotes
“It’s not a precisely perfect night, as we could have scored more goals. But it’s our first victory ever, the first goals ever, it was very offensive football from our part, so there were a lot of good things as well. Our players were, above all, competent. The [seven line-up] changes were a sure bet from our part: everyone here has their role, and today we had a sample of that. We have to celebrate [this victory] until training time, and then prepare to face the United States and do our best.” Francisco Neto, Portugal coach
fifa.com
