Portugal loses to the Czech Republic in qualifying for the U19 European Championship
The Portuguese under-19 women’s football team lost this Tuesday to the Czech Republic, by 2-1, at Estádio Algarve, in a match in the first qualifying round for the European Championship.
In the first round of group 6 of Liga A, which also includes Spain and Slovakia, played in the Algarve until Monday, as Portuguese, who took the lead, by Margarida Caniço (60 minutes), even wasted opportunities further along. of the game, allowing a twist with “bis” by Sabina Strizova (73 and 90).
Portugal started better, dominating the first 20 minutes, with Joana Caiado threatening twice: at eight she shot at the figure and at 14, after breaking away and overtaking the Czech goalkeeper, lost the time to retake.
The main occasion of this period came at 19 minutes: full-back Matilde Silva, with a great long pass to clear Nelly Rodrigues, isolated her teammate, who shot to defend Fuchsova.
The Czech Republic responded and, in the space of two minutes, created two good opportunities, both by Sabina Strizova: first, it was Joana Prazeres who prevented the ball from entering the goal (23), and then it was guard Catarina Potra who defended in the ‘one to one’ against the isolated adversary (25).
Close to the break, Portugal once again created danger, this time by spearhead Margarida Caniço, who missed a deflection after Joana Caiado’s center (44) and, isolated, shot at Fuchsova (45).
The start of the second half was more intermittent, with the two teams dividing the game a lot in midfield, until Margarida Caniço’s (60) goal came out, shooting without a chance at the upper left corner of the Czech Republic’s goal.
At 73, as Czechs under-19, attention was paid to the reduction at a time when the Portuguese, who seemed secure in defending their advantage, did not discover how to move the ball away from the penalty area, giving Strizova a sure-fire shot to equalize.
Portugal continued after the opponent’s goal and had several occasions, namely by Maria Alagoa, who ran all over the offensive midfield to shoot against a Fuchsova goal (78), and by Filipa Bandeira and again Alagoa, who both hit the crossbar in the same play (85).
Unfairly, the Czech Republic ended up stamping the victory in the 90th minute, with Strizova again in evidence, scoring his second goal of the match.
Portugal returns to action on Friday, facing Spain in Albufeira, and ends the course at this stage on Monday, against Slovakia, again at the Estádio Algarve.
The first three classified in the group proceeding to the next stage of qualifying, while the fourth and last classified is relegated to League B.