Vietnam was Eliminated after a loss to Portugal

Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth scored to secure a 2-0 victory over Vietnam and a maiden Women’s World Cup win.

• Telma Encarnacao scored Portugal’s first Women’s World Cup goal
• Kika Nazareth added a second in a dominant performance
• The result means Vietnam are eliminated

Portugal 2 – 0 Vietnam | Group E

Goalscorers: Telma Encarnacao (7′), Kika Nazareth (21′)

Portugal kept alive their FIFA Women’s World Cup™ hopes and ensured Vietnam was eliminated in the process after a 2-0 win at Waikato Stadium.

First-half goals from Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth secured a first Women’s World Cup win for Portugal after a dominant display in Hamilton.

Portugal could have been in front inside the opening five minutes after Jessica Silva and Nazareth both missed when clear inside the penalty area.

But they did take the lead in seven minutes when Portugal worked the ball well down the right-hand side before Lucia Alves crossed for the unmarked Encarnacao to finish from close range.

The lead was increased in 21 minutes when Nazareth was played through on goal. She took a touch before rolling the ball past Thi Kim Thanh Tran to double the European’s advantage.

Further chances came and went for Portugal, with Silva denied by Tran in the second half moments before Nazareth fired straight at the Vietnam goalkeeper after Joana Marchao’s shot looped up onto the crossbar.

Portugal will now face the USA in their final Group E game knowing victory over the holders would secure a last-16 spot.

Key stat

Portugal’s Kika Nazareth (20y 252d) is the youngest player to score for a European nation at the 2023 finals so far.