Meeting referring to the first round of Group A3 of the Elite Round of qualification for the European Championship
• Photo: FPF
The Portuguese women’s under-19 football team drew 0-0 with Italy today, in the first round of Group A3 of the Elite Round of qualification for the 2024 European Championship.
The result ends up not reflecting what happened at the National Stadium, in Oeiras, as the main scoring opportunities belonged to the ‘quinas’ team, which faced a well-organized Italy and which twice reached the finishing zones. , the last of which is already in the compensation period.
After, in the first qualifying round, Portugal guaranteed its maintenance in League A, thanks to a 7-0 victory against Turkey – and in the other two games there were as many defeats against Spain and Sweden -, the team’s Marisa Gomes came out today stronger than the Italians, dominating ball possession and offensive actions.
Although they found it difficult to reach scoring areas, the truth is that the Transalpine team were unable to do so either, resulting in a very competitive game in midfield.
In the 34th minute, Mafalda Mariano, with a direct free kick, on the right side, in the form of a shorter corner, was close to opening the scoring, having been worth the tight save, for a corner, by goalkeeper Emma Mustafic.
In the second half, on Italy’s side, it was Manuela Sciabica’s turn to test Catarina Potra’s reflexes. In response, at 63, Neide Guedes shot slightly over.
With the game ‘breaking’, it was Mafalda Mariano once again causing shivers when she took the ball off the post of the Italian goal, in the 71st minute, from a direct free kick.
Portugal was giving everything and, in the 78th minute, saw Luísa Brás header wide of the right post of the Italian goal, after seconds before Maísa Correia had wasted time for the shot, and the same player, in the 90th minute, shot for goalkeeper defense.
When the curtain fell, Nadine Sorelli forced Catarina Potra into an incomplete save, the ball fell to Anna Longobardi, but, luckily for Portugal, the Italian shot over, keeping equality.
With this result, the two teams share second place in Group A3 of this Elite Round, with one point, behind leader England, who has three, after beating Switzerland 2-0 today in Massamá. The Swiss occupy the fourth and last position, with no points.
And it will be precisely England that will be Portugal’s next opponent, in the second round game, which is scheduled for Saturday, at 6:00 pm, at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras.
By Lusa
