Portugal women begin World Cup qualifying campaign with 2-0 win over Finland | OneFootball

Lúcia Alves is congratulated by her teammates after her wonder goal (Photo: FPF)

The female Seleção began the road to the FIFA World Cup 2027 in positive fashion last night, with a 2-0 victory over Finland in Vizela.

Francisco Neto’s team left it late though, with both goals scored after the 90th minute.

To make it to the World Cup, to be hosted in Brazil, Portugal have to qualify from their four-team group and progress through two play-off rounds.

And the long route to the tournament seemed to be getting off to a rocky start against theoretically Portugal’s toughest opponent in Group B3.

Despite chances galore, the Seleção could not find the net with Diana Silva, Andreia Jacinto and Kika Nazareth denied by goal-line clearances or excellent saves by Finland goalkeeper Anna Koivunen.

When the referee ignored a loud shout for a penalty for a handball in the box in the 89th minute it seemed it would not be Portugal’s night.

Wonder goal breaks the deadlock

But in stoppage time substitute Lúcia Alves struck a stupendous long-range shot that fizzed into the net to finally break Finland’s resistance.

Soon afterwards and Portugal doubled their lead as another substitute, Carolina Santiago, cleverly slid an angled shot into the net.

Pereira penalty save

The frenetic stoppage-time action was not over yet as Finland were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Inês Pereira dived to her left to keep it out and make sure Portugal top the group after the first round of matches.

In the other game in the group played yesterday, Slovakia beat Latvia 3-2. Next up for the Navegadoras is precisely the Slovaks, in Barcelos on Saturday.