Portugal 2-2 Switzerland
Switzerland would be forgiven for thinking that they could swat Portugal aside in their UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Group C opener after taking an early 2-0 lead. However, Portugal did not lie down and produced a brilliant second-half comeback to tie the game. In fact, Portugal will feel they deserved to win the game.
The Portuguese women qualified for the tournament after Russia was kicked out due to FIFA sanctions following Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine. That did not deter them from a brilliant performance to seal a memorable comeback. Both teams made their UEFA Women’s Euro debut in 2017 and were looking to build on it.
Switzerland took the early lead
The ambush started early as Coumba Sow opened the scoring with a scorcher from the edge of the area after just 80 seconds on the clock. FC Zürich center-back Rahel Kiwic doubled the lead in the fifth minute with a powerful header. This was the earliest a team has taken a 2-0 lead at the UEFA Women’s European Championship.
Portugal looked stunned and struggled to string easy passes. However, Eseosa Aigbogun was lucky to escape a second yellow card after a nasty collision with Ana Borges. Portugal began to find their composure towards the end of the first half. They had some lovely attempts, but Francisco Neto’s side couldn’t break the Swiss. Their best would come in the second half.
Second-half Portuguese resurgence
The Portuguese pressure had been coming, but they only made it count in the 59th minute. Ana Borges swung in a corner that Diana Gomes thumped at the keeper. She pounced to send her rebound home. Portugal 1-2 Switzerland. Game on.
Jessica Silva had been dangerous all night, and it was no surprise that she scored the equalizer in the 66th minute with a brilliant finish from Tatiana Pinto’s cross. Portugal 2-2 Switzerland. Portugal had some great half-chances to pull off a memorable comeback, but it ended all square at Leigh Sports Village.
