A BOLA – Portugal adds and follows the path to the 2023 World Cup (Women’s Football)
Portugal called and beat Serbia (2-1), in the third round of Group H qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, in women’s football. Francisco Neto’s team won the second consecutive victory at this stage.
The quinas team started better, with Ana Borges (28 ‘) to open the scoring. However, Serbia managed to restore equality even before the break, through Nina Matejic (45 + 2 ‘). In the second half, it was the turn of captain Dolores Silva (52 ‘) to decide the match, by charging a penalty to punish a foul on Ana Borges.
With this result, Portugal follows in second place with seven points, two behind Germany. Serbia is fourth, without any added points. Remember that the first classified in each group and the two best second will qualify for the play-off.
Follow the main incidents of the match here:
19.56 hours – The match ends. Portugal’s victory over Serbia (2-1).
90 ‘- Five more minutes will be played.
89 ‘- New replacement in Serbia. Sara Pavlovic gives way to Bilijana Bradic.
81′- New round of substitutions for both sides. Vesna Milivojevic (Serbia) gives way to Emilija Petrovic. On the Portuguese side, Francisca Nazareth and Andreia Jacinto are rendered by Carolina Mendes and Fátima Pinto.
81 ‘- Free-kick scored by Stefanovic (Serbia) on top.
77 ‘- First substitution in Serbia. Vajda Orsoja gives way to Marija Ilic.
76 ‘- In a quick counterattack move, Nina Matejic (Serbia) forces Patrícia Morais to make a two-step save.
76 ‘- Joana Marchão (Portugal) retrieves the ball at the edge of the area and shoots, but over the top.
70 ‘- Yellow card for Dolores Silva (Portugal), who fouled Milivojevic.
69 ‘- Yellow card for Catarina Amado (Portugal). A blocked lateral in Damjanovic’s fault, preventing the counterattack.
66 ‘- It is Francisco Neto (Portugal), the first to change the match. Tatiana Pinto and Jéssica Silva replace Andreia Norton and Ana Borges.
64′ – A new run by Damnjanovic (Serbia) down the middle, forcing Patrícia Morais (Portugal) to make a tight defence.
60 ‘- It was released on Bonfim speakers. There are 3821 fans in the stands of the Vitória de Setúbal stronghold.
58 ‘- Francisca Nazareth (Portugal) meets Andreia Norton at the corner of the area, who fires hard to defend Cetinja (Serbia).
59 ‘- Nina Matejic (Serbia) header that forced Patrícia Morais (Portugal) to go to the ground to hold the ball.
55 ‘- Corner scored by Joana Marchão (Portugal) in a short way, but the combination with Francisca Nazareth is cut off by Serbia’s defense.
54 ‘- Coach Pedrag Grozdanovic (Serbia) received a yellow card for protests.
52 ‘- Goal from Portugal! Dolores Silva scores with a classic penalty – goalkeepers to one side and the ball to the other.
50 ‘- Penalty for Portugal. Ana Borges was overthrown by Frajtovic and the Polish scientist signaled a penalty.
49 ‘- Song marked by Ana Borges (Portugal), in short form. Francisca Nazareth crossed and the defense moved away.
49′- Diana Silva (Portugal) shot inside the area that bumps into a defender.
19.06 hours – The second half starts.
18.50 hours – Halftime with a tie at the marker (1-1).
45 + 2 ‘- Goal from Serbia! Frajotovic scored a free-kick from the left half. After much confusion in the area, Nina Matejic put the ball in the back of Portugal’s net.
45 + 1 ‘- Corner taken by Frajtovic (Serbia) on the right. Patrícia Morais (Portugal) gets away with difficulty and Francisca Nazareth recovers the ball.
45 ‘- Three more minutes will be played in the first half.
45 ‘- Damnjanovic (Serbia) bursts through the middle and fires poised. The ball passes close to the left post of Patrícia Morais (Serbia).
42 ‘- Serbia’s insistence play that ends with Stefanovic’s shot wide.
38 ‘- Corner marked by Joana Marchão (Portugal) on the right side. Aggravates Serbia’s defense at the far post.
35 ‘- Joana Marchão (Portugal) enters the opposing area, but sees the shot hit an opponent.
31 ‘- Damnjanovic (Serbia) appears on the left, shoots across and forces Patrícia Morais (Portugal) to defend tight.
29 ‘- New dangerous move for Portugal. Diana Silva goes around the opposing goalkeeper, crosses into the area, but Francisca Nazareth is unable to direct the shot into the empty goal.
28 ‘- Goal from Portugal! Francisca Nazareth starts the counterattack, Andreia Norton launches Ana Borges on the back of the defense and Sporting’s right-winger puts the ball in the back of the net.
23 ‘- Ana Borges (Portugal) crashed in the area in a duel with Frajtovic (Serbia). Ewa Augustyn ordered the move to follow.
20 ‘- Shot by Andreia Jacinto (Portugal) that deflects an opponent and ends up in the hands of Cetinja (Serbia).
19 ‘- Corner marked by Ana Borges (Portugal), on the left side. The combination with Andreia Norton did not go as expected and Serbia ended up to recover the ball.
18′- Mijatovic (Serbia) shot from outside the box. Patrícia Morais (Portugal) held no problem.
16′- Corner marked by Milivojevic (Serbia) on the left side. The ball went straight out.
15 ‘- Free-kick scored by Milivojeic (Serbia) on the left. The ball was cut by Catarina Amado (Portugal). Singing for Serbia.
14′- Milivojevic (Serbia) with a sprint down the middle after Andreia Norton (Portugal) lost the ball. Patrícia Morais fit the shot.
13 ‘- Andreia Norton (Portugal) shot from above.
12 ‘- Catarina Amado (Portugal) isolated Ana Borges who, in front of the opposing goalkeeper, tried to put Diana Silva. The ball has been cut.
11 ‘- Portugal’s counterattack led by Francisca Nazareth, who delivered it to Ana Borges. The far right crossed for Diana Silva, but the ball hit an opponent and ended up in the hands of the goalkeeper.
9 ‘- Pavlovic (Serbia) is booked. The player tried to delay the restart of the game.
18.02 hours – Start the game!
17.58 hours – After listening to the anthems, Humberto Coelho handed over the commemorative plaques of the 125 international appearances to Ana Borges, Carole Costa and Dolores Silvas.
5.30 pm – The elevens are already known.
Francisco Neto chose the following players to start the match.
Portugal: Patricia Morais; Catarina Amado, Sílvia Rebelo, Carole Costa, Joana Marchão; Dolores Silva, Andreia Jacinto, Andreia Norton; Ana Borges, Francisca Nazareth and Diana Silva.
Alternates: Rute Costa, Inês Pereira, Alicia Correia, Suzane Pires, Jessica Silva, Tatiana Pinto, Lúcia Alves, Carolina Mendes, Diana Gomes, Andreia Faria and Telma Encarnação.
On the Serbia side, Predrag Grozdanovic will line up the following team, with emphasis on Nevena Damjanovic, former captain of Sporting.
Serbia: Sara Cetinja; Vajda Orsoja, Violeta Slovic, Nevena Damjanovic, Andjela Frajtovic; Dejana Stefanovic, Sara Pavlovic, Vesna Milivojevic; Milica Mijatovic, Nina Matejic and Jovana Damnjanovic.
Alternates: Jovana Petrovic, Marija Ilic, Aleksandra Djordjevic, Kristina Pantelic, Mina Cavic, Milana Knezevic, Tijana Jankovic, Biljana Bradic, Emilija Perovic.
Polish Ewa Augustyn will direct this game, assisted by Paulina Baranowska and Katarzyna Wasiak.
After the draw in Turkey (1-1) and the victory in Israel (4-0), Portugal returns home to play the first match of Group H qualifying for the World Cup-2023. Up ahead will be Serbia, at the Estádio do Bonfim (18 hours), which still has only one game in this campaign, a heavy defeat in Germany (1-5). As for Francisco Neto’s command, they are known in second place with four points, two of the Germans.
Remember that at this stage they are ranked first in each of the nine groups, as well as the two best ranked second.
This is an unprecedented match, as Serbia and Portugal have never before faced each other in women’s football.