2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Vietnam Suffer Early Exit As Portugal Pick First Win To Brighten Round-16 Hopes
Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Group E - Portugal v Vietnam - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand - July 27, 2023 Portugal's Jessica Silva celebrates with fans after the match REUTERS/David Rowland
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
Francisco Neto’s Portugal’s flew out of the blocks in a battle of tournament debutants to pick their first win of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Telma Encarnacao scoring one and setting up the other in a 2-0 win over fellow Women’s World Cup debutants Vietnam, sending the Southeast Asian side out of the tournament at Waikato Stadium on Thursday to brighten their round-16 hopes.
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Portugal head coach made seven changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Netherlands in their Group E opener and the decision paid off as first-half goals from Encarnacao and Francisca Nazareth earned them a first ever World Cup win to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive after they beat Vietnam 2-0 at the Waikato Stadium to claim their first-ever victory at a FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) and condemn their opponents to a group-stage exit.
Encarnacao swept Portugal in front after seven minutes with a smart first-time finish from Lucia Alves’ cross before turning provider for Nazareth, who fired the ball past goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh in the 21st minute.
Only 11 places separate the two teams in the world rankings, with Portugal sitting higher at 21, but the contest was one-sided and the Europeans were firmly on top throughout with five attempts on target in the first half alone.
In stark contrast to their struggling display against the Netherlands, Portugal dazzled under the floodlights in Hamilton and Neto was delighted with the victory even though the score-line did not reflect their dominance.
Portugal are third in Group E with three points and will face the U.S. in their final group game in Auckland while Vietnam, yet to score or pick up a point, take on the Netherlands in Dunedin. Both matches will be played on Tuesday.
Meanwhile…
A second-half goal from co-captain Lindsey Horan allowed USA to fight back for a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in a thrilling Women’s World Cup Group E match on Thursday.
The fiercely-fought re-run of the 2019 final lived up to its billing in Wellington and both sides had good chances to win the fixture in an action-packed final 20 minutes.
Read Also – FIFA Women’s World Cup Individual Records
USA remain top of Group E on goal difference from the Dutch heading into their final match against Portugal next Tuesday while Netherlands will play debutants, Vietnam who have already crashed out after the 2-0 loss to the Selecao today in final group game.
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