Page 18 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.28 2022-23

Portugal 1 (Encarnacao 50)
Wales 1 (Rowe 72)
A superb second half strike from full back Rachel Rowe earned Wales a draw against
World Cup-bound Portugal in the second of their friendly matches, played at Estádio D.
Afonso Henriques.
Gemma Grainger opted for an unchanged team from that which had beaten
Northern Ireland 4- 1 in their previous friendly, five days earlier, with both Olivia Clark
and Esther Morgan keeping their places in the starting line up.
In an open and competitive start to the game, Portugal looked keen to test Wales
from wide positions and provide service for their two strikers, but the visiting defence
looked assured in the early exchanges while asking a couple of questions of their own at
the other end.
Rhiannon Roberts produced the first effort on goal with a strike from long range
which cleared the bar. However at the other end, there was a scare for Wales as Ana Rute
rattled Olivia Clark’s bar from outside the area.
Gemma Evans timed a last ditch tackle perfectly to deny the home side from taking
advantage during their best period of pressure, but Wales rode out the storm and came
more into the game as the half wore on, with the scoreline goalless at half time.
Five minutes into the second half, Telma Encarnacao curled the ball past Clark and
into the far corner to give the home side the lead.
Wales had made little impression as an attacking force at this point but began to
push forward with more purpose. Jessica Fishlock tested Portugal goalkeeper Patricia
Morais with a decent strike which gave some encouragement to the visitors.
The encouragement was to near fruit just minutes later as a Wales corner from the
left was half cleared as far as the edge of the area, where a waiting Rachel Rowe planted a
right foot volley back over the Portuguese defence and past a helpless Morais, finding the
far corner of the net.
Wales did need to stand firm and defend resolutely in the later stages in order to hold
on for a draw as Portugal pressed for a victory in front of their own fans. Clark did make
an important save late on to deny substitute Ana Marques from regaining the lead for
Portugal.
All in all, Wales will be satisfied with the result and performance on the night but
things were soured in injury time when captain Sophie Ingle was sent off after receiving a
second yellow card.
Portugal: Patricia Morais, Catarina Amado, Lucia Alves (sub Ana Borges 30mins),
Silvia Rebelo, Andreia Norton (sub Vanessa Marques 68mins), Fatima Pinto, Carolina
Mendes (sub Jessica Silva 57mins), Diana Gomes, Francisca Nazareth (sub Diana Silva
74mins), Telma Encarnacao (sub Ana Dias 67mins), Ana Rute (sub Tatiana Pinto
57mins). Subs not used: Ines Pereira, Rute Costa, Joana Marchao, Andreia Jacinto,
Dolores Silva, Carole Costa, Ana Seica, Ana Capeta.
Wales: Olivia Clark, Rhiannon Roberts, Rachel Rowe (sub Ffion Morgan 87mins),
Sophie Ingle, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Esther Morgan, Angharad James, Ceri
Holland, Jessica Fishock, Hannah Cain. Subs not used: Laura O’Sullivan, Safia
Middleton-Patel, Chloe Williams, Josie Green, Georgia Walters, Elise Hughes, Charlie
Estcourt, Ella Powell, Megan Wynne, Alice Griffiths, Anna Filbey.
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