Kika Nazareth puts on a show as Portugal women keep up perfect record with 5-0 thumping of Latvia | OneFootball

Portugal women were far to strong for Latvia in Estoril tonight (Photo: FPF)

Portugal’s female Seleção continued their impressive World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 thumping of Latvia in Estoril tonight, all the goals coming in the second half.

Kika Nazareth was the star of the show, the Barcelona player scoring two stunning goals. Carolina Santiago, Ana Capeta and Dolores Silva also got on the scoresheet as Portugal made it five wins from five games in Group B3, having scored 16 goals and conceded just one.

Despite the impressive record, Portugal have not clinched top spot in the group yet. But only a defeat by more than two goals in the final group game in Finland on Tuesday can prevent them winning the section, which as well as ensuring progress to the playoffs in World Cup qualifying will also mean promotion back up to the A league of the Nations League.

New blood energises team

After a period in which Francisco Neto’s team seemed to be standing still, or even regressing, the female Seleção are once again playing with quality and verve, energised by a raft of younger players who are starting to make their mark in the team.

Right-back Nelly Rodrigues (23 years old) and forward Carolina Santiago (19) caught the eye in particular, with midfielder Andreia Faria, who recently turned 26, also turning in an impressive performance.

It does help, of course, having a genuine world-class player in the ranks, and Kika Nazareth is most definitely that.

The Barcelona schemer had been at the heart of most of Portugal’s best moments in the first half. Despite dominating the match from the first minute some wayward finishing prevented the Seleção from scoring before the break.

Capeta lost out when one-on-one against Latvia goalkeeper Sofija Nesterova, and Santiago’s left-foot shot came back off the post, both chances created by pinpoint passes by Nazareth.

The floodgates open

The home players trooped of the pitch at the half-time interval visibly frustrated, but it did not take long for the breakthrough to arrive upon the restart.

Carolina Santiago showed excellent footwork to jink her way past her marker in the box and guide a low angled shot into the corner of the net. The assist? Kika Nazareth of course.

Portugal doubled their lead in the 54th minute, Capeta producing a deft finish to turn in a low Nelly Rodrigues cross.

The hosts were now threatening to run riot, Rodrigues unlucky to see her shot rebound off the bar.

The sizeable crowd in Estoril – the FPF waived the entry fee to watch the game – had just seen two fine goals but they were then treated to something special courtesy of Nazareth.

The Portugal No7 smacked in a stupendous shot with her right foot from fully 25 yards out, injecting tremendous power into the ball.

The crowd had hardly had time to catch their breath when Nazareth did it again. This time she used her left foot and it was nearer to goal, but the result was exactly the same, the ball arrowing into the top left-hand corner of Nesterova’s net with the goalkeeper having zero chance of getting anywhere near it.

The cherry on the cake came in the 85th minute when captain Dolores Silva curled a delightfully struck free kick over the wall and into the net.

Finish the job in Finland

Five fine goals but the manner of the overall performance is what will most please coach Francisco Neto. Portugal could have scored more goals and never looked like conceding on the rare occasions Latvia ventured forward.

Should the Seleção play with the same spirit and talent as shown tonight, they will surely finish the group phase by obtaining the result they need in Finland to top the standings.