Portugal came in guns blazing and Telma Encarnação allowed her name to be engraved in the History books by scoring the first goal. Next, in a first phase to the game in which the ‘navigators’ added up warning shots, Kika Nazareth rose the score to 2-0 at 21 minutes. The triumph allows Portugal to continue dreaming about a pass into the top eight. For that, however, they’ll have to overcome the United States, defending champions, in the 3rd and last match of Group E next Tuesday.

After a marginal defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in the opening match, manager Francisco Neto bet on no more, no less than seven changes to the initial eleven. Vietnam, also coming from a defeat of 0-3 against the US, was able to penetrate the Portuguese area in the initial moments but couldn’t uproot things and Portugal quickly took the game into their hands.

Jéssica Silva left a first warning shot at four minutes, Kika Nazareth delivered a second moments later, and at seven minutes the Selection scored. Ana Lúcia came in from the right and kicked it to where Telma Encarnação would send it into the goal. Just like that, the first-ever goal for Portugal in the Women’s World Cup final phases was achieved.

The goal calmed and motivated Portugal, at the same time discouraging the Vietnamese, and the shots at the goal carried on. Telma, Lúcia Alves and Jéssica Silva threatened the 2-0, before Telma Encarnação came very close to scoring again. Vietnam valued their goalie in this time, who with two great plays blocked the goal.

The second goal could be predicted, though, and it didn’t wait long. Telma Encarnação spotted Kika Nazareth isolated and sent a great pass her way, and she, face-to-face with the opposing goalkeeper, sidestepped them with a tricky shot and elevated the score to 2-0.

Telma then saw the Vietnamese goalkeeper, Thi Kim Thanh Tran, negate her goal twice, with Andreia Jacinto also trying her luck with an unsuccessful shot at the goal.

The third goal, in the end, didn’t come and Portugal slowed the rhythm a bit, letting Vietnam commit to their first shot of the game which was nearing the end of the first half. The shot was defended securely by Patrícia Morais, the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Portugal returned to commanding the game at the start of the second half and the opportunities for a goal once again came very frequently. Telma Encarnação just skimmed over the goal at 51 minutes, Jéssica Alvo also missed the mark at 56, and Joana Marchão was also close to scoring at 60.

Some efficacy was missing to tie the knot on the game, and then some luck was missing too. Andreia Jacinto hit the post at 63 minutes, and Telma missed the score at 65 and 66 minutes when the ball didn’t quite make it into the Vietnamese goal. Jéssica Silva tried for the shot twice, asked for a penalty kick, the game proceeded and in the follow-up to the launch Joana Marchão hit the bar, before Kika Nazareth threw herself at Thi Kim Thanh Tran and had the ball just fly above the goal.

Another ball on the bar would come to happen again in the final 10 minutes. Joana Marchão made a free kick for Portugal, with the ball coming very close to the goal and just hitting the beam.

During extra time Vietnam’s goalie got to shine again, avoiding a 3-0 for Portugal, who weren’t able to translate their dominance into more goals in the second half, but ended up unequivocally making History anyway, sealing their first-ever victory in the final phases of the Women’s World Cup, staying in the fight for a place in the quarterfinals.

To achieve it, the National Selection will have to make even more History and win the 3rd match of this group stage, on Tuesday 1 August at 8am (BST), against the United States of America, the current world champion holders and a powerhouse in women’s football.